{"id":27811,"date":"2024-03-13T09:51:25","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T14:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2024\/03\/13\/citizen-behavior-and-individual-rights-and-equality\/"},"modified":"2024-10-23T17:02:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T21:02:41","slug":"citizen-behavior-and-individual-rights-and-equality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2024\/03\/13\/citizen-behavior-and-individual-rights-and-equality\/","title":{"rendered":"4. Citizen behavior and individual rights and equality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Democracy \u2013 which, even in its most minimal form<\/a>, requires the selection of governments through elections \u2013 necessarily relies on the people<\/strong>. Citizens must vote for representatives or policies, and, some would argue<\/a>, are responsible for being informed and for holding politicians accountable via elections or protests. But, across the 24 countries surveyed, citizen behavior regularly comes up as an area that requires change in order for democracy to work better. The issue ranks in the top five coded in most countries and is among the top three issues in about half of those surveyed. (In this analysis, \u201ccitizens\u201d refers to all inhabitants of each country, not the just legal residents.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDemocracy is a precious thing that needs our constant participation and protection. The more we participate, the better it is. We should not shrug our shoulders and say, \u2018I don\u2019t care about politics,\u2019 as life is political and we need to look after it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nWoman, 70, Australia<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Many scholarly conceptions of democracy \u2013 and particularly liberal democracy<\/a> \u2013 also hinge on people having the ability to enjoy independence, rights and freedoms<\/strong>. Yet having more freedoms, better-protected freedoms or equitably implemented freedoms are still areas in which many still see need for improvement. These issues are particularly salient in some countries that were governed by right-wing populist parties during the survey field period, ranking in the top five of the 17 substantive topics coded in Hungary, Italy and Poland. (For more information on how we classify populist parties, refer to <\/em>Appendix E<\/em><\/a>.) <\/em>Individual rights and equality is also a top issue in Israel, though it is raised substantially more often by Arab Israelis than Jewish Israelis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizen behavior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 20 of the 24 countries surveyed, improving how people operate within their democracy is among the top five issues coded. In Israel, Italy, Japan and Sweden, citizens are the second-most mentioned topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMore people should vote and give their opinion. Democracy doesn\u2019t work unless people give their views. Otherwise, a minority will be in control and things can turn fanatical.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nMan, 77, UK<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In some countries, those with higher levels of education are more likely than those with lower levels to mention citizens as an area where improvements are needed. For example, in Italy, 19% of respondents with a post-secondary degree or more education mention citizens, compared with 10% of those with less schooling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to how citizens can change, a few broad themes are dominant, including the need for citizens to be more informed, to participate more and to generally be better<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizens need to be more informed<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

One Australian respondent summed up the need for citizens to be informed<\/strong> using a quote often ascribed to Winston Churchill: \u201cThe best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.\u201d It echoes concerns raised in other countries that citizens need to \u201cdo due diligence before voting\u201d and have \u201cmore awareness\u201d or \u201cmore interest\u201d in politics. In Japan, one woman argued that it\u2019s necessary \u201cfor each person to have a strong opinion about politics,\u201d while a woman in Greece said, \u201cCitizens should be politically active and critical thinkers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The desire for an engaged and knowledgeable public stems in part from concerns that uninformed citizens can be misled<\/strong>. One Japanese woman said, \u201cThe people are too apathetic about politics, and they go ahead and pass anything.\u201d An American man noted that \u201cmedia is an echo chamber and politicians control the narrative. Having critical thinking skills and being more informed can be antidotes to these problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Netherlands, concerns about being misled by politicians extended to voters \u201clistening to populists on social media.\u201d<\/strong> (The survey was fielded in the Netherlands prior to the election of right-wing populist Geert Wilders<\/a>.) A Spaniard wanted citizens to \u201chave memory so as not to repeat history.\u201d And an Australian respondent emphasized the need for voters to research who or what is on the ballot before<\/em> they turn up at the voting booth, so they don\u2019t \u201cmake up their mind at the doorstep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cStart from the school system: teach civics. Educate young Italians and others on the concept of democracy. Everyone, from politicians to administrations, should practice it and set an example to increase democratic life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nMan, 85, Italy<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Some call for educational changes<\/strong> to remedy these issues, as in the case of one Canadian man who wanted his country\u2019s education system \u201cto teach people how to think in order to make democracy flourish.\u201d In Sweden, there were specific calls not only for teaching social studies to \u201craise awareness of democracy\u201d but also for people to learn the Swedish language to participate more fully. (For more on how people want to change education, read <\/em>Chapter 3<\/em><\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain respondents go so far as to argue that citizens need to demonstrate they are informed via some sort of knowledge<\/strong> test prior to voting<\/strong>. \u201cDemocracy would improve if you could only vote if you could prove that you had a good understanding of politics or a certain IQ \u2013 like 100 or higher. People need to be better informed at school about how the political system works and demonstrate that they understand,\u201d said a Dutch woman. One American man said, \u201cBasic knowledge of the Constitution should be a requirement for registering to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizens need to participate more<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The type of citizen behavior people want varies, from voting to protesting to simply \u201cparticipating more.\u201d But the general idea that citizens should take action rather than complain<\/strong> is clear in some responses. \u201cCitizen activity is necessary. Many don\u2019t follow politics because they view it as negative, but there must be some way to get more people involved in a system to help change it, rather than complaining constantly about how depressing politics is,\u201d said a man in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cLet citizens raise their voices and fight for their rights.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nWoman, 30, Mexico<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Certain people focus on turnout<\/strong> at the polls \u2013 \u201cexercising your right to vote.\u201d As one Italian man said: \u201cWe need a culture of more participation. Right now, I see that only 40% of people go to the polls. I wish people were more informed. Politicians are raising empty citizens.\u201d Some fixate on turnout among specific groups<\/em> of people. A 29-year-old British man said, \u201cI think democracy would improve if the younger people voted more. At the minute, a lot of decisions are made by older people who don\u2019t understand the younger generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But opportunities to vote are usually infrequent, and some feel that citizens should do more between<\/em> elections. \u201cIf we want something to be done in a certain way, we all need to be in the streets demanding it. Everything should not be limited to a single vote every four years. It should be done day by day according to what is needed at that moment,\u201d said a Spanish woman. A German man echoed this idea: \u201cThere should be more people in the streets. Germans are a bit cowardly. They should fight for many things and not give up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, some respondents raise concern about the effect of too much<\/em> protest. In France, for example, one man noted that citizens should \u201ctrust the elected president and government and not always be against them. The right to strike must be used less often because it disturbs fellow citizens.\u201d A French woman echoed the sentiment, saying, \u201cA little more respect for others is needed. Democracy is good. Take to the streets, sure, but don\u2019t break things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizens need to be better<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Concerns about overall \u201ccitizen quality\u201d <\/strong>run the gamut. In broad terms, there is a desire to \u201craise the cultural level of the country\u201d or to see \u201ccare, patience, harmony, community, communication. Something not found here in a long time. I\u2019m not sure how to get it back.\u201d Respondents note the need for \u201cgreater personal morality\u201d or \u201cinvestment in the welfare of neighbors,\u201d and place importance on \u201cthinking of everybody. There are a lot of people who pursue dogmatic thought and only their own interests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People also call for unity<\/strong>: \u201cEverything would improve if we thought that we were not so different from each other. Treat everyone equally. The person we meet is \u2018like myself\u2019 and just as valuable,\u201d said one Swedish woman. An Indian man said, \u201cTo improve India, everyone should be in unison and work shoulder to shoulder.\u201d Responses sometimes focus on societal divisions which need to be overcome \u2013 like those between secular and religious people in Israel, the North and South in Italy, tribes in Kenya, religious groups in Nigeria, generations in South Korea, social classes in Spain, or Democrats and Republicans in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe should respect others instead of disparaging them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nMan, 70, South Korea<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tolerance <\/strong>is also a key quality people want to see in their society. \u201cI think we need more respect, like for religion and skin color, race, homosexuality and financial conditions,\u201d said one Brazilian woman. A French woman explained that, in her view, democracy would be improved \u201cif we knew how to listen to each other and respect one another, if there was respect for individual beliefs and lifestyles and respect for each other within the law.\u201d In Canada, one of these calls for tolerance extended to \u201cbeing less afraid that Canada will be less White or Caucasian\u201d and instead embracing diversity, as \u201cimmigrants enrich the country\u2019s system with their views.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, even while some U.S. respondents note the need for things like \u201cbeing more inclusive and less racist,\u201d others seem to feel that too much time is being spent on questions of diversity or inclusion<\/strong>. One American woman said, \u201cWe need to stop worrying about people\u2019s pronouns so much and worry about making the country more economically sound,\u201d while another noted the need to \u201cstop political correctness.\u201d In Australia, too, there were calls for \u201ca whole lot less wokeness. People\u2019s feelings or the way they interpret something can\u2019t dictate what is legal and what is not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe need to educate the next generation about democracy, its importance, its fragility, its value and what will happen if we lose it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nMan, 73, Israel<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

These contradictions \u2013 some people calling for citizens to behave in one way while others argue for the opposite \u2013 are pervasive in Israel. The survey was conducted at a time when the country was awash in protests against judicial reform<\/a>. To that end, some Israelis called for citizens \u201cto demonstrate and prevent the legal coup from happening,\u201d while others wanted people to desist and \u201cprevent the demonstrations from the left from leading to anarchy.\u201d Still, while some Jewish Israelis expressed sentiments like \u201cremember that we are all Jews, we are all one nation,\u201d the sentiment expressed by some Arab Israeli respondents was quite different: \u201cShow tolerance toward others, including minorities.\u201d (For more on contradictions within a country, read the report <\/em>overview<\/em><\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps citizens can take<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cAlways stay in conversation with each other. No quarreling. Listen well to one another. Laugh and do fun things together to develop positivity. Be practically oriented and build things together.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nWoman, 43, Netherlands<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A Polish man said, \u201cDemocracy here sucks because people can\u2019t talk calmly, they just start arguing right away.\u201d And the broader sentiment of improving communication comes up in a few different countries. For example, in South Africa, respondents called for \u201cmore polite communication\u201d and \u201cbeing patient with each other.\u201d In many other countries, people emphasize that learning to speak respectfully and listen can help fix democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specific suggestions also emerge. In the U.S., one man offered a prescription to the problem of citizen quality: \u201cEverybody just get off social media for a month. Actually talk to your neighbors. There\u2019s a lot more we agree on than what the echo chamber would have you believe.\u201d And in Australia, a woman focused on the need to just slow down: \u201cSometimes, I think people are in too big of a rush and don\u2019t communicate much with their neighbors. I think we need to do more interacting with neighbors and friends because now people get into their car and pull their garage door down. We need more communication.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual rights and equality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another suggestion to improve democracy centers on people having individual rights that are protected properly so they can participate in democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Hungary, Israel, Italy and Poland, the issue ranks in the top five of the 17 substantive codes. It ranks in the top 10 in most other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cFor everyone to have the freedom to be as they are and to say and do what they want.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nWoman, 71, Netherlands<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In some countries, women are more likely to mention rights and equality than men. For example, 9% of women in Sweden mention the issue, compared with 4% of men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Israel, people on the ideological left (23%) are significantly more likely to bring up equality and individual rights than those in the center (11%) or on the right (4%). Even more starkly, Arab Israelis are 15 times more likely than Jewish Israelis to mention individual rights and equality (44% vs. 3%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black South Africans are more likely than White South Africans to mention individual rights, though the difference is much more muted (3% vs. less than 1%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across the 24 countries surveyed, respondents sound general calls for individual rights \u2013 such as \u201cequality for all\u201d and \u201cfreedom of speech should be nonconditional\u201d \u2013 as well as focus on specific grievances and inequities related to gender, race, caste and more. Still, some express concern that an emphasis on addressing inequality can go too far, to the effect of silencing viewpoints or creating \u201creverse racism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More protected freedoms<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Generic calls for<\/strong> equality<\/strong> center around the notion that a system is flawed when \u201cdemocracy is not the same for everyone.\u201d As one man in Japan expressed: \u201cWe should conduct politics based on the idea that all citizens should be equal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMake sure everyone gets a fair go. All individuals are included, not excluded.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nMan, 50, Australia<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

People also bring up specific freedoms they would like protected, such as freedom of speech<\/strong>. Several respondents in the UK, for example, bemoan what they perceive to be growing censorship: \u201cFreedom of speech is being closed down, meaning that people cannot say what they would like to say,\u201d said one British man. People in the U.S. and Argentina express similar concerns, and one woman in Kenya emphasized the need for \u201ceveryone to be given a chance to express their opinion without the police subduing anyone who thinks differently.\u201d Others see free speech as central to democracy, as in the case of an Australian woman who said, \u201cWe need to protect freedom of speech since it promotes honest, open dialogue for healthy debate and improvements to our culture.\u201d A German woman cut to the core of the issue, stating that democracy would improve if \u201cyou are allowed to say what you want, what you think, and not be afraid of being persecuted for it. In other words, to express your free opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom of religion<\/strong> is another theme some respondents raise. In the UK, one woman said, \u201cIt\u2019s very important that democracy takes into consideration all communities. There should be no religious bigotry and people should not be treated differently because of their religious beliefs. They should be able to practice their religion freely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combatting inequality between races, genders and more<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWhen \u2018hijab\u2019 no longer means \u2018terrorist.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nWoman, 29, Israel<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A central theme related to individual rights and equality is to correct injustices \u2013 across race, gender, class, immigration status or other divides in society. Sometimes respondents specified many dimensions at once: \u201cAll citizens should have an equal say and be treated as well as one another, regardless of color, where they were born or their religion,\u201d said an Australian woman. Similarly, an Indian woman said, \u201cTreat everyone the same, avoid caste, religion and communalism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n