The importance of participation in politics

Politics is the means by which society, through representatives or otherwise, seeks the best path for the community, improvements, development policies, and other struggles that aim to improve living conditions in a given location or community. It is in the political arena that the people decide their rights and the direction society should take, also aiming to solve current and future problems.

Since it is impossible for an entire population to collectively decide on a matter of such broad macro-political scope, this function is delegated to representatives in the executive and legislative branches. However, politics and democracy are not limited to the mere participation of the people in choosing representatives during election periods and then turning their backs on everything that happens in the political arena, as if it were a carte blanche for rulers to decide as they please.

On the contrary. A politicized and truly democratic society must involve the people in decisions concerning the direction and improvement of the community, and this involves discussing all matters of common interest with society. This requires greater individual engagement, directly and indirectly, in politics, whether at the local, municipal, state, or even federal level. The famous quote from Plato is relevant here: "The punishment of good men who do not engage in politics is to be governed by bad men."

Therefore, one should not wait for rulers, politicians, and public authorities to call upon or open the doors for everyone's participation. The people must participate through mechanisms such as oversight, monitoring of public authorities, and engagement in collective and social causes. For this, the organization and articulation of society is important and necessary through neighborhood and professional associations, through social movements defending a cause or rights, and even through partisan political participation and involvement. The organization, cohesion, and articulation of the people allows for a greater chance of achieving rights and improvements for the entire community and, consequently, for the individual.

 Alongside the organization and popular participation in politics and decision-making, it is also necessary to demand and fight for greater openness from the State—the nation—so that the people can decide on important and controversial issues with socio-political repercussions. The fight for openness to participation is discussed because in Brazil there is a political culture of excluding the people when it comes to decision-making. Our 1988 Federal Constitution introduced some tools for popular participation, such as plebiscites and referendums, but unfortunately, they are rarely used in our country.

Thus, considering the importance of politics to a society, people should become more engaged and stop denying politics because that is denying themselves the right and duty to decide what is best for the community and for themselves. We are political beings, said Aristotle, and if we want something better, a better and more rational politics, we have to do things differently, bring new ideas to politics. Therefore, organizing to decide collectively, participating in decisions about the direction of a country, city or state is the way to build a more just, egalitarian, participatory, democratic and politicized society.