By mid-twentieth century, citizenship and democracy had become a grand narrative about cohesion within society as well as about representation and misrepresentation within the modern state. Building a national identity proceeds hand-in-hand with the tasks of building a legitimate state and democratic institutions. In Africa for instance, the issues of democracy and citizenship have come to the centre stage. Many post-independent African governments have attempted to construct and strengthen the national consciousness of their citizens. Such policy formed part of broader projects meant to develop and promote national identity and the ties that bind them to one another as well as emphasize the bonds between state and citizens. However the blurring of such issues as participation, civil society, nation-state, citizenship and democracy, robbed as it were, the public sphere of its ‘ideal’ status, particularly with regard to its potential as an integrative force in society. While pervasive poverty constitutes the main hindrance to democracy in some countries, in others, the democratic deficit rests on other considerations.
Everyday experience of citizenship in post-colonial Algeria has revolved around a sense of what is lacking, the absence of entitlements, respect and dignity shattered by the French colonisers, a sense of longing for recognition, of being allowed to live with dignity, and of being treated as fully human. Integral to this process has been the development of a national identity out of the debris of colonialism. Today, state-society interaction in the country points towards both progressive and regressive democratisation.
Drawing on ideas from Habermas, Putnam, Dahl and others, this paper aims to explore the dimensions of democratic citizenship in Algeria. On the one hand, it will look at the strategies used by the decision-makers to revigorate and activate democratic governance. On the other hand, it will attempt to answer such questions as: 1) what are the new diverging and conflicting notions of (democratic) citizenship that are articulated in the public spheres? 2) What has happened to the stock of “social capital” in the course of democratisation in Algeria? What must the country do for an enduring democracy?
Table of Contents
Contextualising the Struggle for Democracy in Africa
The Democratic Agenda in the Arab World
The Dynamics of Social Capital
Building a National Democratic Society
Democratic Oases in the Algerian Desert
How does the Algerian Youth Perceive and Experience Citizenship?
Rejuvenating the Democratic State through Education
Developing the Next Generation of Algerian Citizens
Creating a Democratic School Culture
Activism as the Pathway to Democracy
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of democratic citizenship in Algeria by examining the strategies employed by decision-makers to foster democratic governance and investigating the perspectives of the youth regarding their roles as citizens. The research seeks to identify conflicting notions of democratic citizenship, evaluate the state of social capital in the context of Algerian democratization, and propose educational strategies for cultivating an active, responsible citizenry capable of sustaining an enduring democracy.
- Analysis of the democratic deficit and the role of social capital in Algeria.
- Investigation of youth perceptions on legal status, identity, and civic virtue.
- Assessment of the link between civic engagement and the current educational system.
- Examination of the necessity for democratic school cultures and active pedagogical approaches.
- Exploration of the relationship between national identity and civic responsibility.
Excerpt from the Book
How does the Algerian Youth Perceive and Experience Citizenship?
My research over the past years has identified what appears to be a fundamental and growing malaise in Algeria, the decline in civic engagement of citizens. Much has been made of this phenomenon and the related decline in social capital particularly in the US with its consequential impact on the health of US democracy, but little attention has been paid within the mainstream political science literature to elements of ‘civil society’ in Algeria. No concern has been directed towards the phenomenon of non-participation of youth in democracy, especially the declining levels of youth voting in national elections.
This lack of research on youth disengagement makes it necessary to take cognisance of the complex contextual factors that modify the possibilities of democratic citizenship in Algerian civil society. The idea of democratic citizenship underscores thus a need to re-examine the current political institutional set-up and state-society relations from the point of view of democratic governance as well as effective participation by the people.
Youth is an important category in the Algerian context given its demographic qualities. They make up 75% of the population. As such it is the youth that would strengthen and sustain the Republic. It is also the most valuable symbol of ‘national culture and patriotism.’ For this reason, I deemed it important to investigate their perceptions and experiences of citizenship.
The respondents had been interviewed through questions related to: 1) perceptions and experiences over the legal dimension of citizenship (legal rights and duties); 2) self-identification and attachment to local/national/religious/ethnic groups, and 3) modes and practices of participation in community activities. The responses of the young people showed that citizenship is perceived, experienced and enacted in a number of different ways which can be mapped out according to the three dimensions of citizenship: legal status, identity and civic virtue. Young people’s responses reveal that the state-centric conception and practices of Algerian citizenship are not accepted and imagined in the same way by everyone.
Summary of Chapters
Contextualising the Struggle for Democracy in Africa: This chapter outlines the historical stages of political transition in Africa, highlighting the democratic deficit and the challenges of post-colonial governance.
The Democratic Agenda in the Arab World: This section discusses the quest for democracy in the Middle East and North Africa, emphasizing the distinct, non-Western outlook of potential democratic movements in the region.
The Dynamics of Social Capital: The author explores the theoretical foundations of social capital, contrasting Putnam’s focus on trust and civic networks with Bourdieu’s analysis of social capital as an exclusionary resource.
Building a National Democratic Society: This chapter assesses the Algerian democratic experience since independence, noting the disconnect between formal constitutional structures and the reality of elite-driven power.
Democratic Oases in the Algerian Desert: This text examines the irony of Algeria possessing the preconditions for democracy while struggling with internal political, ideological, and economic conflicts.
How does the Algerian Youth Perceive and Experience Citizenship?: The chapter presents empirical findings from interviews with young Algerians, revealing a disconnect between state-centric citizenship and their own lived experiences and expectations.
Rejuvenating the Democratic State through Education: The author argues for the critical role of education in forming democratic citizens and proposes reforms to curricula to foster civic engagement.
Developing the Next Generation of Algerian Citizens: This section focuses on the necessity of cultivating individual virtues and critical inquiry among the youth to ensure the stability of the democratic project.
Creating a Democratic School Culture: This chapter suggests transforming teacher-student relationships from authoritarian models to facilitating dialogues to promote independent thinking and active participation.
Activism as the Pathway to Democracy: The final section emphasizes that volunteering and social activism are essential to broadening participation in governance and rebuilding trust in political institutions.
Keywords
Democratic Citizenship, Algeria, Social Capital, Civic Engagement, Youth, Education, Democracy, Governance, Civil Society, Political Participation, National Identity, Civic Virtue, Democratization, Public Sphere, Political Reform
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The work examines the dimensions of democratic citizenship in Algeria, specifically looking at how the state and the youth conceive of and practice citizenship in a transitioning political environment.
What are the core thematic fields addressed?
The research encompasses social capital theory, the role of education in fostering civic values, youth political engagement, and the institutional challenges facing the Algerian democratic project.
What is the central research question?
The study aims to understand the diverging notions of citizenship articulated by young Algerians and explore how democratic governance and civic engagement can be revitalized through education and social activism.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author uses a theoretical framework based on sociopolitical literature and incorporates qualitative primary data obtained through interviews with young Algerian participants.
What does the main body discuss?
The main body covers the historical context of democracy in Africa, theoretical debates on social capital, an investigation of youth perspectives, and recommendations for educational reform.
What are the key terms that define this work?
Key terms include democratic citizenship, social capital, civic engagement, and the democratic deficit, reflecting the work's focus on the intersection of state institutions and societal participation.
How does the author characterize the 'democratic deficit' in Algeria?
The author identifies the democratic deficit as essentially a 'civic deficit' rooted in the weakness of civil society and a lack of trust in governmental institutions.
What specific role does the author assign to Algerian universities?
Universities are expected to go beyond traditional knowledge transmission to become 'civic universities' that foster critical inquiry, public engagement, and democratic values among students.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Doctor Malika Rebai Maamri (Autor:in), 2014, The Dimensions of Democratic Citizenship in Algeria, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/275320
