04/13/2016
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR DEMOCRACY Identifying Priorities and Related Responsibilities for Civil Society PROFESSOR ROSALEA HAMILTON VP Community Service & Development, UTech, Ja. CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY WORKSHOP Knutsford Court Hotel April 14, 2016
What evidence do we have of citizens engagement in our democracy Let’s look at some of the Latin American Popular Opinion Project (LAPOP) survey data published in the 2014 Political Culture of Democracy in Jamaica and in the Americas - tracked democratic governance across 10 years from 2004 to 2014
DATA ON CIVIL SOCIETY & DEMOCRACY Attendance at Meetings of Religious Organization
Community Engagement Participation in Community Groups and Organizations have decline in Jamaica between 2006-2014
2014
48.0
2012
48.7
2010
48.5
2008
57.1
2006
64.6 Community Participation Index
2014
28.6
2012
28.6
2010
27.9
2008
34.4
2006
36.9 Attendance at Meetings of Parent Association
2014
24.2
2012
23.7
2010
22.8
2008
27.2
2006
29.3 Attendance at Meetings of Community Improvement Association
2014
13.3
2012
13.0
2010
12.4
2008
17.1
2006
15.5 0
20
40
60
80
Average 95 % Confidence Interval (with Design-Effects) Source:
AmericasBarometer, LAPOP, 2006-2014; v.JAM14ts_v2_temp
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DATA ON CIVIL SOCIETY & DEMOCRACY 80.0 66.1
60.0
Social/Political Activism Average
Jamaicans prefer legal rather than illegal forms of protest and activism
36.3
40.0
36.3
18.4
20.0
0.0 Legal Protest
Illegal Protest
Vigilante Justice
95 % Confidence Interval (with Design-Effects)
Overthrow Government
Overthrow Government Source:
AmericasBarometer, LAPOP, 2014; v.JAM14ts_v2_temp
DATA ON CIVIL SOCIETY & DEMOCRACY Vigilante Justice
2014 2012 2010 2008 2006
Social/Political Activism However, there is a troubling gradual increase in support for vigilante justice, illegal protest action, and attempts to overthrow government.
36.3 31.0 27.9 25.6 24.5 Illegal Protest
2014 2012 2010 2008 2006
36.3 25.0 25.5 23.7 21.1 Attempts to Overthrow Government
2014 2012 2010 2008 2006
18.4 13.3 11.5 10.5 9.3
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
Average 95 % Confidence Interval (with Design-Effects) Source:
AmericasBarometer, LAPOP, 2006-2014; v.JAM14ts_v2_temp
DATA ON CIVIL SOCIETY & DEMOCRACY
Income Inequality This is taking place in the context of ongoing economic difficulties and a widening income gap ll between upper and lower socioeconomic groups
Gini Index for Jamaica and Selected Countries in the Americas Year
2002 2004 2005 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013
Country Colombia
60.7
Costa Rica
58.3
56.9
57.2
56.7
54.2
53.5
56.5
50.7
48.7
47.6
48.9
50.7
48.6
48.6
49.7
Dominican Republic 50.1
52.0
51.1
49.0
48.9
47.4
45.7
47.2
El Salvador
53.1
49.0
50.3
46.8
48.3
42.4
41.8
45.5
Honduras
58.9
58.5
59.7
61.3
57.0
57.4
-
56.7
-
-
-
59.9
-
59.9
60.8
59.2
48.1
47.5
USA Jamaica
40.6 48.3
45.5
41.1
Haiti Mexico
49.7
46.1
-
48.3
-
-
Source: World Bank and IMF data
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DATA ON CIVIL SOCIETY & DEMOCRACY 78.1
76.0
80.0
77.6
Government Should Implement Policies
Income Inequality
71.6
to Reduce Income Inequality
There is very strong citizen support for the government to introduce policy measures to reduce the l income gap between the rich and the poor, but it is declining
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0 2008
2010
2012
2014
Year 95 % Confidence Interval (with Design-Effects) Source:
AmericasBarometer, LAPOP, 2006-2014; v.JAM14ts_v2_temp
DATA ON CIVIL SOCIETY & DEMOCRACY 53.3 49.9
50
Trust in Local Government We have the lowest degree of trust for local government in the entire region
49.9
49.4
Chile Canada El Salvador Nicaragua Honduras Paraguay Mexico Venezuela Uruguay Costa Rica Ecuador United States Bolivia Argentina Guyana Guatemala Panama Colombia Dominican Republic Belize Trinidad & Tobago Haiti Brazil Peru Jamaica
49.9 46.8
40
30
20
10
0 2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
57.3 55.9 55.3 55.1 53.7 53.7 50.9 50.2 50.2 49.9 49.6 49.5 46.2 45.8 44.5 44.0 43.9 42.9 42.1 41.6 41.1 38.7 37.1 36.6 33.7 0
Trust in Local Government (regional averages)
10
20
30
40
50
60
Trust in Local Government (2014)
95 % Confidence Interval (with Design-Effects) Source:
AmericasBarometer, LAPOP, 2004-2014; v.GM14ts_0912
Is our Democracy in trouble?
The 2014 LAPOP study suggest that there is LOW SYSTEM SUPPORT and LOW LEVELS OF TOLERANCE in Jamaica and concluded: OUR DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK
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DATA ON VOTER TURNOUT Year of General Election
Total # of Voters
% Voters
Total # of Nonvoters
% Non-voters
# Electors on Voter’s List
2016 2011 2007 2002 1997 1993 1989 1983 1980 1976 1972 1967 1962 1959 1955 1949 1944
870,663 876,310 821,325 768,282 771,068 675,296 845,485 26,543 860,746 742,149 447,771 446,815 580,517 564,071 495,680 477,107 389,109
47.72% 53.17% 61.38% 59.02% 65.22% 67.36% 78.38% 2.68% 86.91% 85.21% 73.93% 82.24% 72.88% 66.09% 65.11% 65.16% 58.68%
953,747 771,726 516,821 533,356 411,224 327,275 233,275 964,043 129,671 128,823 157,891 96,492 216,023 289,468 265,558 255,110 273,960
52.28% 46.83% 38.62% 40.98% 34.78% 32.64% 21.62% 97.32% 13.09% 14.79% 26.07% 17.76% 27.12% 33.91% 34.89% 34.84% 41.32%
1,824,410 1,648,036 1,338,146 1,301,638 1,182,292 1,002,571 1,078,760 990,586 990,417 870,972 605,662 543,307 796,540 853,539 761,238 732,217 663,069
WHY ARE WE NOT VOTING?
Low Voter Turnout UTech, Jamaica’s THINK TANK is doing a survey to examine the problem of low voter turn among faculty, staff and students at UTech, Ja. We would also like to get your views…please complete our survey
WHY BOTHER???? CAN THE PEOPLE OF JAMAICA REALLY CHANGE THE SYSTEM?…DO WE REALLY HAVE DEMOCRACY?
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What is Democracy? Greek origin – means ‘rule by the people.’ "...government which is conducted with the freely given consent of the people.“ "...a system of government in which supreme authority lies with the people.” "Rule by the people in a country directly (DIRECT DEMOCRACY) or by representation (REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY)."
DEMOCRACY
Democracy REQUIRES active participation of people that goes well beyond voting for a representative Democracy is NOT just Electoral Democracy
PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY IS ESSENTIAL A system with more involved, active forms of citizen participation than traditional representative democracy
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WHY SHOULD WE PARTICIPATE?
WHO OWNS JAMAICA?
The PEOPLE should participate because WE OWN JAMAICA The PEOPLE should accept the OWNERSHIP & RESPONSIBILITY for Jamaica The PEOPLE should be actively involved in decisions about the country WE OWN The responsibility of ownership of our country - FI WI JAMAICA is CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
What is Civic Responsibility?
Simply put, it is the responsibility of citizens in a democratic society
Active participation in nation-building by informed citizens committed to constructive engagement to achieve desired social, economic and political outcomes
PARTICIPATION CIVIC DUTY
What kind of PARTICIPATION are we talking about?
Abiding by the Law Paying Taxes Accepting Jury duty Caring for others – “duty to care”
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PARTICIPATION
What kind of PARTICIPATION are we talking about?
CIVIC RESPONSIBILTY
Registering to Vote Voting in Elections Participating in the BUDGET Monitoring how YOUR money is spent Holding your MP accountable Solving social and economic problems – eg., bad parenting, low productivity, low level education …& more
Year
INFORMED CITIZENS
Freedom House Selected Country Scores 0 (the most free) to 100 (the least free) Jamaica United United Canada States Kingdom Score Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Rank
Citizens have a responsibility to BE INFORMED & SHARE INFORMATION -
2011
18
23
17
17
19
26
19
26
2012
18
22
18
18
21
31
19
25
2013
18
23
18
18
21
31
20
29
2014
17
18
21
21
23
36
19
26
RESEARCH, TRAINING & COMMUNICATION
2015
17
18
22
22
24
38
18
22
are essential
We have PRESS FREEDOM We have Access to Information Act We have access to the INTERNET
CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT
HOW we actively participate and engage with each other matters!!! Our engagement should be RESPECTFUL…not “dissing” each other TOLERANT… to a different view points UPLIFTING…not tearing down each other POSITIVE…to achieve desired outcomes
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DESIRED SOCIAL OUTCOMES
VISION 2030 World-class EDUCATED society with a CULTURE of LEARNING HEALTHY society Free from deadly diseases
What kind of SOCIETY do we want?
Effective SOCIAL PROTECTION Authentic & Transformational CULTURE SAFE, VIOLENT-FREE society Especially for vulnerable women/girls
PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT Freedom from DISCRIMINATION More Tolerance & Respect for each other
DESIRED ECONOMIC OUTCOMES
What kind of ECONOMY do we want?
DESIRED POLITICAL OUTCOMES
What kind of POLITICS do we want?
VISION 2030 FULL EMPLOYMENT with DECENT WORK & EQUAL PAY STABLE ECONOMY GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE BUSINESSES ENABLING BUSINESS ENVIROMENT…esp for MSMEs First-class INFRASTRUCTURE ENERGY Security & Efficiency TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED Economy
VISION 2030 GOOD GOVERNANCE CITIZENS PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE NO CORRUPTION END TRIBALISM, POLITICAL INTOLERANCE & INTIMIDATION FREEDOM FROM VICTIMIZATION FAIR & FREE ELECTION
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ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRIORITY ISSUES WE COLLECTIVELY DEFINE AS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THESE DESIRED OBJECTIVES
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY ALSO REQUIRES… PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY Requires persons with integrity who can LEAD BY EXAMPLE and live TRANSPARENT LIVES…guided by CORE VALUES identified in VISION 2030 * RESPECT for ALL citizens * National Pride * Honesty & Truthfulness * Cooperation * Forgiveness & Tolerance * Punctuality * Fairness * Good Work Ethic * Discipline * Compassion & LOVE * Commitment to taking Responsibility
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY ALSO REQUIRES… SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS We need ALL HANDS ON BOARD - this requires inclusive, nondiscriminatory organizational activities recognizing – ALL A WI A ONE!!! We need a SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS that recognizes I AND I - our interconnectedness as human beings – UBUNTU – I am because you are It is this consciousness and collective responsibility that is required to: STOP THE VIOLENCE, especially Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence END MODERN DAY SLAVERY/HUMAN TRAFFICKING…& more
It is essential for improving Jamaica and creating a better society of ALL the people and not just a few!!!
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CONCLUSION
We have a CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY to FIX UP JAMAICA
The evidence suggest our DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK!!! If we ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in nation-building Become INFORMED CITIZENS CONSTRUCTIVELY ENGAGE with each other Embrace CORE VALUES and SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS We will achieve desired social, economic & political outcomes MY JAMAICA…YOUR JAMAICA…FI WI JAMAICA!!!
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