CHAPTER :03

Quotation:

"No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather both are
processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime."​
— Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary-General

Meaning of the Quotation:

The quote means that citizenship and democracy are not automatic or fixed. Citizenship is
something you develop by actively participating in society, and democracy grows over time as
people engage in decision-making. Both are ongoing processes that evolve through
continuous effort from individuals and society.

1. Citizenship as a Practice

What is Citizenship as a Practice?

●​ Citizenship as a practice means doing something to contribute to your country and

community. It’s not just about having rights (like voting); it’s about participating in
things that affect the community.​

●​ Examples:​

○​ Voting in elections.​

○​ Helping out in your local community, like volunteering for clean-up drives or
charity work.​

Key Points:

●​ Using Judgment: Making decisions that affect the community, like voting based on
what’s best for everyone.​
 ●​ Caring for Public Good: Thinking about what’s best for society, not just for yourself.​

●​ Education and Growth: Participating in activities that help you learn and grow as a
responsible citizen.​

●​ Building Community: Working with others to make your community a better place.​

Pakistani Example:

●​ Voting in national elections or helping in flood relief efforts shows how we practice
our citizenship.​

2. Active and Participatory Citizenship (APC)

What is APC?

●​ Active and Participatory Citizenship (APC) means getting involved in your

community and making decisions that affect everyone. It’s not just about voting, but
also about giving your opinions, helping with local projects, and being part of things
like discussions and community actions.​

Key Features:

●​ Getting Involved: APC means doing more than just voting. It’s about helping, speaking
up, and participating in discussions about what happens in your society.​

●​ Empowerment: APC gives people the power to make changes in their community.​

●​ Promoting Democracy: APC makes democracy stronger by making sure everyone

has a voice.​

Pakistani Example:

●​ Digital Pakistan: Youth in Pakistan are now more involved in online discussions about
the future of the country, sharing ideas about education and employment.​

3. Aristotle’s Classical Vision of Citizenship

What Did Aristotle Think?

●​ Aristotle believed that true citizenship means actively participating in the government,
not just living in a place. He said that good citizens should help make decisions and
contribute to society.​

●​ In Ancient Greece, citizens weren’t just people who lived there; they helped make
decisions for the whole community.​

Pakistani Example:

●​ In Pakistan, voting for local government elections and being part of decision-making
processes is a way of practicing active citizenship, just like Aristotle described.​

4. Authority of Citizens

What is Authority?

●​ Authority means having the right or power to make decisions. In a democracy,

citizens have authority because they can vote and choose who will make decisions for
them.​

●​ This power is given to citizens through things like the constitution, laws, and
elections.​

Pakistani Example:

●​ General Elections in Pakistan give citizens the authority to choose their leaders.
These leaders then make important decisions for the country.​

5. Concern for the Public Good

What is the Public Good?

●​ The public good means doing what’s best for everyone in the community, not just
what’s best for you personally.​
 ●​ Active citizens always think about the common good – making decisions that help
everyone, even if it means sacrificing a bit for the greater good.​

Pakistani Example:

●​ When citizens come together to help flood victims or provide emergency aid, it shows
they are focusing on the public good, not just their own interests.​

6. Citizenship as Education

What is Citizenship as Education?

●​ Citizenship education is about learning your rights and responsibilities as a citizen. It

helps people understand how they can participate in democracy and contribute to
society.​

●​ By being actively involved, citizens also learn and grow by making better decisions for
their community.​

Pakistani Example:

●​ Schools in Pakistan are now teaching children about democracy and civic duties, so
they can understand their role in society and contribute to decision-making.​

7. Citizenship and Community

Why is Community Important?

●​ Citizenship is about being part of a community. It’s about working together with
others to make the community better, whether through volunteering, discussing local
issues, or making decisions together.​

●​ A strong community helps citizens become more active and responsible.​

Pakistani Example:
 ●​ Akhuwat Foundation works to help poor families with interest-free loans. This helps
the community grow by helping people become self-sufficient and part of social
development.​

8. Ladder of Participation (Sherry Arnstein)

What is the Ladder of Participation?

●​ The Ladder of Participation shows the different levels of citizen involvement in

decision-making. It has 8 rungs, each representing a different level of participation, from
having no say to having full control over decisions.​

The 8 Rungs of the Ladder:

1.​ Rung 1 – Manipulation:​

○​ Citizens are used to make a decision look good, but they have no real power.​

○​ Example: When citizens are forced to attend rallies but have no chance to
voice their opinions.​

2.​ Rung 2 – Therapy:​

○​ Citizens are treated like they are the problem and need to be “fixed”.​

○​ Example: Workshops where citizens are told how to behave, but their own
views are ignored.​

3.​ Rung 3 – Informing:​

○​ Citizens are told what’s going to happen but can’t change anything.​

○​ Example: Government announcing a new health policy but not asking for
public feedback.​

4.​ Rung 4 – Consultation:​

○​ Authorities ask for opinions, but they don’t have to listen or act on them.​
 ○​ Example: Surveys about education policies in Pakistan, but the government
doesn’t have to act on the feedback.​

5.​ Rung 5 – Placation:​

○​ Citizens have some representation, but decisions are still made by leaders.​

○​ Example: Youth parliaments where young people give ideas, but decisions are
made by politicians.​

6.​ Rung 6 – Partnership:​

○​ Citizens and government share decision-making power.​

○​ Example: Community-based decisions about how to use local funds.​

7.​ Rung 7 – Delegated Power:​

○​ Citizens have real power in decision-making, but still have some limits.​

○​ Example: Local community groups deciding on development projects with

government oversight.​

8.​ Rung 8 – Citizen Control:​

○​ Citizens have full control over decisions and their implementation.​

○​ Example: Youth-led organizations where young people make all decisions

and take action on their own.​

9. Citizenship in Organizations

What is Organizational Citizenship?

●​ Organizational citizenship refers to actions that help improve an organization but go

beyond basic job requirements.​

●​ It’s about participating in activities that benefit the whole organization even when they
are not part of the formal job description.​

Pakistani Example:
 ●​ Pakistani NGOs, such as Akhuwat, encourage volunteerism for social causes, where
people contribute beyond their work duties to improve society.​

10. Reinventing Government (1990s)

What is Reinventing Government?

●​ In the 1990s, the idea of reinventing government meant making the government
more efficient, like a business.​

●​ Governments focused on being more customer-friendly and reducing waste in public

services.​

Problems with Reinventing Government:

●​ The problem was that citizens were treated like customers, with less participation in
decision-making.​

●​ Citizens should be partners, not just customers in a democracy.​

Pakistani Example:

●​ The privatization of PIA in Pakistan is an example of reinventing government, where

the focus on efficiency led to less citizen involvement.​

Key Takeaways
Concept Key Ideas Example (Pakistan)

Active Citizenship Participation in society to influence Voting, Volunteering,

decisions Digital Participation

Aristotle's View Active participation in decision-making Local government

participation

Ladder of 8 levels of citizen participation, from Digital consultations, Youth

Participation Manipulation to Citizen Control Parliaments
Organizational Participation in organizations for NGOs in rural areas
Citizenship efficiency working with youth

Reinventing Government as business, Issues with treating

Government customer-focused citizens as customers