Civic Engagement Perspectives on Active Citizen Participation in Political Life

Abstract

This paper was originally written for Dr. Laurent Dobuzinskis’ POL 210 course Introduction to Political Philosophy. The assignment asked students to choose a question from a provided list and form a well-researched stance, analyzing the philosophies of various political thinkers. The paper uses Chicago citation style.

Citizen participation in politics is a relevant topic which connects to social matters and impacts decision-making and laws within society. This subject harbours a rich history, ranging back to ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, and has continued to evolve. Thinkers like Hobbes, Plato, and Nozick were dubious of civic engagement for reasons such as absolute sovereign authority and citizens’ predetermined societal positions. Conversely, Rousseau and Aristotle advocated for citizen participation with the rationales of the common good and collective deliberation being effective, since man has a natural aptitude for politics. Regardless, there are historical nuances to each outlook and to develop an opinion one must thoroughly examine the complex beliefs of each individual.