Society Needs Active Citizens
By Chris Conway
``States are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions," wrote Noam Chomsky, a noted political activist. We, the citizens of developed states with democratic mechanisms, must remember these words. Given that many live in corroded or non-existent states, we are privileged.
A healthy democracy requires active citizens. Active citizens are those who wish to maintain and extend our liberties. This article will examine how active citizens are challenging the standard version of events given by those in power on a number of key issues.
There is an increasing concentration of power in the business world. The standard view says this reflects increasing international cooperation. Indeed, this tendency shows the market becoming more efficient. Centralized organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) work to increase free trade and prosperity for all. While it is true that media sources are owned by the few, this will ensure that more people in the world can enjoy them.
Active citizens will remember Milton Friedman's (economist) remark that ``concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it." The advantage to power being spread is that it prevents abuses and cultivates healthy competition. Monopolies tend to reduce innovation and choice. Centralization is the result of human planning and not an inevitable requirement of the market. WTO planning shapes our lives in various ways, yet this process is insulated from public opinion. Media monopolies threaten diversity of opinion due to conflicts of interests. This brings us to the role of the media.
The dominant view of the media emphasizes its tenacious defense of truth and freedom. Governments fear the relentless scrutiny of a combative press that will reveal every abuse of power. Look at how public opinion turned against the Vietnam War due to the release of objective and transparent information. Anyone with access to media can be an engaged and well-informed citizen.
Active citizens understand that the media is as flawed as any other human institution. Media providers are businesses first (publicly-funded corporations such as the BBC to a lesser extent) and speakers of truth second. The facts may be distorted should they conflict with those providing advertising revenue. The spectrum of acceptable debate varies as governments seek to impose their version of events. Therefore, it is necessary to ``manufacture consent" for unpopular programs such as war. George Orwell said, ``Language can corrupt thought," and so active citizens are conscious of the ideological motivations behind words. The dominant narrative offered is that of consumer fulfillment rather than civic engagement. What of the consumer society?
The consumer society is a purer expression of democracy than governments. Just look at the failed political projects of the 20th century. These utopian dreams turned into nightmares. The market will respond to the rational decisions made by consumers. Market solutions will improve society where stale ideologies failed. Free trade will erase divisive constructs such as state, religion, ethnicity etc.
Active citizens favor evolution rather than revolution in politics, as the latter threatens the social fabric. Governments try to instill social responsibility, in contrast to the selfish individualism of the market. The latter is unsustainable considering rising populations and finite resources. The market does not merely passively respond to consumer demand.
Growth requires the active creation of irrational desires. Indeed, ``unlimited economic growth has the marvelous quality of stilling discontent while maintaining privilege," notes Chomsky. This means that citizens can take their rights for granted during the good times. Rights are guaranteed only for model consumers (continuing participation).
Unfortunately, the rights of some citizens have been restricted in response to the ``War on Terror." This is a fight we will win. We are under threat from evil people who hate our freedom and our values. There is a price to pay in order to feel secure from terrorism. Governments require extra powers to effectively protect citizens.
Active citizens feel that the laws restricting civil liberties were passed hastily in a climate of fear. These conditions were not conducive to sober debate on the merits of such legislation. The ``War on Terror" is a conflict of unknown duration, which means that liberties lost may never be recovered. Rhetoric denying the well-known grievances contributing to terrorism is not only deceitful, but leaves the door open for further attacks. Let us not forget that ``terrorism" is commonly attributed to ``them," not ``us."
Robert Hutchins (American educator) warns us democracy may suffer ``a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment." The gains that our ancestors fought and died for can be easily lost. The liberties we enjoy are mere words on paper. Only the power of active citizens can preserve them.
The writer is a teacher at Ulsan Institute of Foreign Language Education. He can be reached at