An unbalanced world needs a balanced and steady position from the citizenship by shaping a counterbalanced system against current “storm” of challenges. Is easy to let us fall in this storm and move without measuring the negative impact of our acts. Is easy not to ask why the wind is blowing in one direction instead of another. Is easy not to move against it and find comfort in the middle of that storm. Easy but not fair, our individual and global mission is a strong and active commitment. Moving towards individual fulfilment means also moving harmonically towards global goals under the strong conviction that the future could be changed by individual action.
Institutional crisis and a weak political class are not good allies to see a clear future based on individual action and determination for a resilient future.Is it only through individual awareness that those changes could be achieved in a joint action basis.
Many examples are backing this idea in which individual action has become -or should become- key for the awakening of a new era: Arab Spring, institutional politically blocked in Spain, rise of far-right political parties, separatist movements in Catalonia and within the European Union, a political leadership based in racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia in U.S, among others.
Social networks are helping in this process bringing technology to the political stage as a key element that makes individuals relevant in the political arena. However is a resource that is not being maximizes in its potential and citizens underused this channel. Is precisely this reason that make them loose power and get the feeling that the Sate is “above” them as a structure with no control that moves by their own. There is not awareness of the power of citizen engagement and for this reason, transparency and accountability process are not being developed accurately. It´s true, this position lead us to ancient Greece and direct democracy methods which is exactly what social networks are about: direct control with no hierarchical burdens.
It is all about changing political cultural behaviour (from citizens and authorities) and entering in an era in which citizens feel “empowerment” and “go ahead” with confidence and determination in their demands towards the government.* To achieve this goal is paramount to change political parties regulation regarding accountability, searching for the legitimation of their decisions and involvement of affiliates. This aspect is key in the sense that makes the difference of being truly representatives of their voters or not. In most of the cases the Board decides with opportunism without having the acquiescence of the owners of the process: affiliates and voters.
In the context of current global political instability, the emptiness that citizenship action left is a fertile ground for nationalist parties for growing. Is it only through the active engagement of citizens that politicians and political parties may be accountable. Resources as social networks and in general organisations from the civil society are not being used to the maximum and its shy influence is not creating the necessary impact.
For an unbalanced world, citizen engagement is a powerful tool to challenge this pseudo-balance that is leading towards isolationism and extremism. Is it also the best way to cancel any attempt from biased interests to manipulate public opinion. 4th Industrial revolution could play a better and stronger role within a framework of a solid citizen engagement. Having as a main goal the development of resources for a fluid and accountable link citizens-political parties, citizens-public sector, citizens-politicians. A sort of direct democracy in the context of a technologically super developed structure in which citizens have access to this resources easily and with a feeling of empowerment.
Being part of the political decision process: that is the goal to keep the balance in current unbalanced, no accountable political arena.
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