Active political participation is an essential component of democratic citizenship and democratic governance. Without citizen participation, democracy is void and yet in many established democracies, political (democratic) participation of some segments of the population has been denied, delayed or obstructed. Even when there are no longer legal barriers to participation, there are still structural (political and economic) barriers as well as psycho-social factors that impede active participation in the democratic political machinery.
Democracy promises equality and equity in participation but there are consistent issues of inclusion being experienced in established democracies. This panel invites papers dealing with issues of inclusion and political participation in established democracies; specifically, papers that explore any of the issues or combination of issues below:
- The relationship between social inclusion/exclusion, tolerance and accommodation, and barriers to democratic participation;
- The role of political parties, civil society organisations, and community/citizen groups in creating pathways for more inclusive democratic societies;
- The challenges of inclusive democracy in plural societies.