Apart from these, sheer lack of knowledge can also act as a serious impediment. Since citizens are not aware of their responsibilities and rights about active participation, they may accept the passive form of citizenship and never question the system. It is when systems and structures are questioned and their need and validity. This is the only way active citizenship can flourish. For this reason education of citizenship is encouraged and is being actively promoted throughout western democracies. According to Gillgren (2005) the best way to remove barriers is by talking about them and identifying them. He writes:
In building citizenship capacity, citizenship education should practice what it preaches, providing not just information, but experiences of engaging in democracy. Citizenship capacity building is about developing people's capacity to participate in forging a common good. It is about rights and responsibility: and that includes the responsibility to be reflective about one's actions and their impact on the social environment we create.'
Interestingly there are also some barriers which are beyond common recognition and inspection but which are as serious in nature and impact as others. The complexities of modern world are one such barrier. People have to think globally and not just locally in order to become more active citizens. This can be best understood with the reference of global politics. Our country doesn't only participate in the local or national affairs but is also an active member of the international community. It would often make decisions and take actions in connection with international issues. However we as citizens might not always approve of them. But if we don't understand global politics well, we might not be able to actively protest against the actions taken. This awareness about the world is important and even critical for active citizenship. The fact that people never questioned government's actions right after September 11 attacks is a good example of lack of awareness and knowledge about international politics. If public knew about the world as much as it does today, none of the unnecessary wars would have taken place.
Another major impediment are the influences of various modern factors including type of economic system we live in and the media. If media tells you that what the government is doing is correct and must not be questioned, there is a very good chance you will think twice before challenging the governmental...
Connected vs. Stand-alone Communication revolution has moved from a world connected by telephone (a synchronous and asynchronous) including e-mail, bulletin boards, broadcast messages and chat rooms. As a result, new learning tools have developed to access knowledge. Active vs. Passive There is much less tolerance for passive situations such as lectures, and digital natives need and want interactive learning opportunities. Payoff vs. Patience The same attributes that keep young people engaged for hours to learn
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