COMENIUS DENMARK

Definition Assumes people are inherently good (conceived by John Stuart Mill, 19 th century) Assumes democracy has MORAL purpose Open-minded society Develop civic participation Aim: change cultures of poverty and despair into places of agency, variety Open space for development(s)

Who is the citizen? Agents of their own development Citizen as the co-creator of a democratic society, not as rights- bearing individuals whose highest act is voting Self-directing Should behave out of their interests or their values and not because of external influence “I am asking you not only to believe in my ability to make change, I am asking you to believe in yours.” – Barack Obama

What are the main tasks? Developing civic agency Creating opportunities for all citizens to contribute their talents, experience, and skills to the process of developing a country (social justice) → collective action dimension “[The] goal is not to put supporters to work but to enable them to put themselves to work.“ – Tim Dickinson, reporter for “Rolling Stone Magazine“

What is the method? Organizing : Development cannot be done “to” people. People have to become the agents of their own development Civic action with a strong focus on popular education to develop skills and habits of civic agency

What is the government‘s role? Catalyze the process of political development by passing laws, etc. Educate the citizens Secure and check the surrounding conditions

Who is the government worker? Civic partner Citizen who is interested in being actively involved in politics Organizer of public education through public work Catalyst Catalyze the process of developmental democracy

How is self-interest understood? Integrated and expanded with civic purposes through work → people are interested in public goods → people want to shape state/democracy as they want/for public goods

What is power? Power of the citizens to … … elect a representative … express one’s opinion … choose how actively/in which way they participate in politics In comparison to other democratic systems, the citizen has the most power.

Developmental democracy Who is the citizen? Co-creator - solving problems, co-creating public goods What are the main tasks? Developing civic agency What is the method?Organizing What is government’s role? Catalyst, resource, convener ‘by the people` Who is the government worker? Civic partner, organizer, catalyst How is self-interest understood? Integrated and expanded with civic purposes through work What is power?Power to ( )

Thank you for your attention! The COMENIUS-group from Germany

Sources ental_Democracy.pdf ental_Democracy.pdf AP Govt Theories of Democracy lecture.ppt