In this text, you will learn about civic and political participation, what is the difference between them and why they are important. You will also discover how active participation helps not only society but also individuals –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ bringing a sense of usefulness, developing new skills and helping to build communities. The introduction explains the basic concepts and shows why participation is important for the diversity of views and involvement of all people, including those without political representation.

What is it and why is it important?

Each of us influences the environment we live in by our behaviour –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ simply by being there, commuting, separating or not separating waste etc. Civic participation, however, is a conscious decision to actively participate in shaping the community or neighbourhood where we live.

Participation in public life takes many shapes and forms. The terms civic and political participation, active citizenship, etc. are often used. These activities can be organised or informal, individual or collective. Sometimes it is not easy to separate civic participation from political participation since the two can overlap within the same activity.

In the Czech context, however, these terms are usually distinguished:

Political participation involves activities aimed at influencing policy, solving social problems or promoting political goals. This includes, for example, participating in elections, joining political parties, supporting political movements, demonstrating, signing petitions or contacting politicians. Political participation is the foundation of democracy – the democratic system could not function without it.

Civic participation, on the other hand, generally involves activities that seek to improve conditions in society and have an impact on a wider range of people than just one’s own family or close friends. This can be volunteering, working in non-profit organisations, participating in community events or discussion forums. These activities often promote specific values, such as protecting the environment or helping disadvantaged groups.

It is very likely that many of you are already active without realising it or claiming active citizenship. Even a little help to others, a small donation or cleaning up the park can be seen as civic participation.

We can also be active in society in an informal way, meaning that we don’t necessarily have to be involved in the activities of specific organisations or institutions. We can take action on our own initiative, but we can also act together with other people (neighbours, friends).

Why is participation important?

From the perspective of society as a whole, civic participation contributes to a greater diversity of views in the public debate and gives a voice to those who would not otherwise be heard. This issue is of particular importance in the context of migration. Many foreigners living in Prague are not politically represented and cannot influence events through elections. However, active involvement allows them to contribute to the development of the local community, to show their interest in society and to participate in its development.

The decision to engage in civic or political activity is usually related to an individual’s personal motivation, life story or goals. For example, active participation can offer you the following:

• Personal development: acquiring new knowledge, skills or competences. In the context of migration, participation can also be an opportunity to practice the local language.
• Fulfilling inner needs: feeling useful, enjoying helping others or improving the social environment.
• Building communities: meeting people with shared values and supporting each other.