The Political Self: Developing Active Citizenship

This section discusses the nature of politics, elements of active citizenship, and how they shape
one’s political self. It details how one can become actively involved in political and communal
affairs, and how they are significant to the shaping of the self.

• Politics, Citizenship and the Self

• As members of the society, people are naturally obligated to participate in a
political system as social citizens. Politics refers to the actions or activities
concerned with achieving and using power in a nation or society. It is also
defined as the ways that power is shared in an organization and the ways it is
affected by personal relationships between people who work together.
• As Aristotle stated, “man is, by nature, a political animal.” This is because man is a
social being and that people naturally drawn to various political involvements in
order to satisfy their social needs.
• Politics as imbibed by man implies several things:
1. Politics is concerned with power. Power inequalities can be observed
within societies. The one who holds power holds influence.
2. Politics functions based on a particular social economic and cultural
context. The nature of politics and political systems is dependent on the
culture of the state. Political claims made by advocates are influenced by
their geographical location and idealogy.
3. The political is also personal. One’s personal choices reflect his/her
personal politics; both are indistinguishable.
4. Politics goes hand in hand with the society. Politics pervades the
structure of society, and thus influences inhabitants in their beliefs,
ethics, and behavior.
• However, the political self is not only shaped by one’s political affiliation or
beliefs. One’s sense of accountability should be manifested in promoting certain
advocacies through healthy political engagement. This is aligned with the concept
of active citizenship.
• Active Citizenship
• Active citizenship refers to the structured forms of engagement with political
processes and everyday forms of participation in society. It is also defined as the
process of sharing decisions which affect one’s life and the life of a community in
which one lives. Participation is the fundamental right of citizenship.
1. Active citizenship is anchored on one’s cognitive and behavioral
engagement to participate in formal and informal political activities.
Different people manifest different levels of active citizenship; some they
take a more active approach in making their voices heard.
 2. Active citizenship is a practice of democracy. Democracy should not
only be thought of as a form of government. It is a communal system that
allows volitional freedom of citizens to make informed choices that allow
them to be heard.
3. Active citizenship is a social construct. It fosters social relatedness and
belongingness.
4. The most important goal of active citizenship is to instill change and
influence society at large.
• Active citizenship is also associated with the “sense of community.” People,
including adolescents, participate in communal activities because it gives a sense of
belonging in a particular group. Active citizenship may facilitate ethnic pride ane
provide a voice to the woes of their social group.
• For the younger generation, active citizenship can contribute to their social
development. Engaging in such activities can also enhance efficacy and
competence of the younger generation, as they are considered to be the “future
leaders” of the society. The participation of the youth in nation-building activities
enhances their value orientation and fosters integrity, compassion, and the sense of
justice, which are crucial to the holistic development of a citizen of a nation.
• Active citizenship helps an individual embrace his/her individuality through the
choices he/she makes and the behavior he/she manifests. The political self is a
result of various personal and environmental factors that impact the individual. The
participation of the youth in political discourse and social activities can result in
cultural and political paradigm shifts that may be felt even by future generations.
Thus, the future begins now.

True or False
As members of the society, people are naturally obligated to participate in a political system as
social citizens.
The participation of the youth in political discourse and social activities can result in cultural and
political paradigm shifts that may be felt even by future generations.
The one who holds power in a society usually holds influence.
Politics does not always go hand in hand with society.
The political self is only shaped by one’s political affiliation or beliefs.
Politics functions based on a particular social economic and cultural context.
Different people manifest different levels of active citizenship.
The political self should be separate from our personal lives.

Active citizenship fosters social relatedness and belongingness.

The participation of the youth in political discourse and social activities can result in cultural and
political paradigm shifts that may be felt even by future generations.

MATCHING TYPE
Politics refers to the actions or activities concerned with achieving and using power in a nation or
society.

The most important goal of active citizenship is to instill change and influence society at large.

Active citizenship refers to the structured forms of engagement with political processes and
everyday forms of participation in society.

Democracy. It is a communal system that allows volitional freedom of citizens to make informed
choices that allow them to be heard.

Active citizenship is anchored on one’s cognitive and _____________engagement. Behavioral