Evaluate the need for civic dialogue in maintaining a democratic society (public meetings, mass meetings).

The American political process affords citizens a wide range of opportunities to participate in and influence it. Through voting, writing letters, contributing to campaigns, and even running for office, ordinary people can shape public policy. All of these activities contribute to “civic dialogue,” a broad-based, free-flowing “conversation” about politics, laws, economics, values, culture, and society.

In many countries, opportunities for citizens to engage in civic dialogue are limited. In the United States, however, individual women and men have a seemingly endless number of opportunities to participate in the political process. Through a variety of activities, they can express their views and otherwise influence politicians and other government officials. As discussed in lesson 6, the chief method is through voting. In addition to voting, people are free (within legally established limits) to organize and attend public meetings, participate in political caucuses and conventions, speak out at city council or other “town hall” meetings, contribute money to political campaigns, work as volunteers for political candidates, circulate petitions, communicate with elected officials in person or in writing, stage and participate in protests, and exert influence on the political system in dozens of other ways.

Politics and Civic Dialogue

Why is civic dialogue important, even necessary, for a healthy democracy? Aristotle argued that human beings are by nature “political animals.” In common usage today, politics is a loaded term that often conjures up images of back-room, under-the-table deals made by the rich and powerful. For Aristotle, however, politics was much more fundamental to human existence than that. He believed that human beings are social, interactive creatures, not meant to live in isolation from each other. More than any other “animal,” humans engage in highly complex interpersonal and social interactions. The highest, most complex manifestation of these interactions is politics — discussions and debates about what is good or best for individuals and the group. When groups of individuals (tribes, communities, cities, nations, etc.), through civic dialogue, decide that something is “good,” they establish expectations, norms, customs, rules, and even laws to secure that good for the group. Political participation, such as contributing to the conversation about what a society values and how that society pursues the common good, is the most important and highest manifestation of civic virtue.

Aristotle argued that through politics and civic virtue, humanity can realize its greatest potential. Without politics and without civic virtue, humankind would be the worst of all Earth’s creatures:

A social instinct is implanted in all men by nature . . . For man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but, when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all; since armed injustice is the more dangerous, and he is equipped at birth with arms, meant to be used by intelligence and virtue, which he may use for the worst ends. Wherefore, if he have not virtue, he is the most unholy and the most savage of animals, and the most full of lust and gluttony. But justice is the bond of men in states, for the administration of justice, which is the determination of what is just, is the principle of order in political society (Aristotle, Politics, Book I).

Outside the bonds of political society, Aristotle concluded that human beings would become either “gods or beasts.” Civic dialogue, then, is the bedrock of popular government. If the people do not possess a broad willingness and ability to participate in the political process, a democratic society cannot function.