Psychological benefits to citizens

Participation serves an integrative function for the citizen. . . . . it increases the feeling among individual citizens that they belong in their community. . . . . . this experience attaches the individual to his society and is instrumental in developing it into a true community. (15)

Educational benefits to citizens

As a result of participating in decision-making, the individual is educated to distinguish between his own impulses and desires. He learns to be a public as well as a private citizen. . . . through this educative process the individual will eventually come to feel little or no conflict between the demands of the public and private spheres. (16)

Political Benefit to Government

Citizen participation in the decision-making process of government helps the latter to reduce the potential for political conflict and instability that may arise as a result of its policies. This is based on the premises: (17)

  1. people respect more those laws on which they have been consulted;

  2. people identify strongly with programs they have helped to plan;

  3. people perform better in projects they have assisted in setting up;

  4. services planned by the people who need them are more likely to meet their needs effectively.

After outlining the humanistic and political benefits of citizen participation in government, as described above, one may be tempted to conclude that citizen participation in government is an end in itself. It is not. In a paper entitled "The Ideology and Practice of Citizen Participation", Wilson Head of York University cautions the zealous advocate of citizen participation to remember that such participation is not an end in itself but a means to effect social change and to build a sense of community among the individual members of society.

Citizen participation is not an end in itself. In the final analysis it must be evaluated on two levels. First, citizen participation is concerned with social change and must be evaluated in terms of its accomplishments in this area. Second, citizen participation must be evaluated in terms of its ability to recapture the spirit of participatory democracy or community involvement. It must enable the citizen to involve himself meaningfully in his society, making his voice and aspirations heard and understood in community decision-making. (18 )

The Role of Special Interest Groups in Government

The Commission has accurately noted that the participation of special interest groups in government has a long history in Canada and its mother country, Britain. This history is a noble one and must be continued if individuals are to exert control over their government. CCLOW, as a special interest group, has studied the history and function of interest groups in Canada. CCLOW is strongly convinced that the participation of interest groups in the policy-making process of government is essential for improved government response to the needs of citizens, and for greater accountability of government to the electorate.

Special interest groups are an inherent and important part of a modern, democratic society in which the membership is not homogeneous and where there are powerful competing interests. Voluntary interest groups can be seen as mechanisms designed to facilitate the participation of non-governmental organizations in the policy-making process of government, and thereby, as providing opportunities for dialogue and negotiation between government and citizens.

The purpose of this dialogue is mainly to achieve an accommodation of the interests of both government and private citizens. Such accommodation when achieved, contributes to social and political stability, a state that is necessary for economic productivity and development.


Back Contents Next