Classical Republican Model of Citizenship - Essay Example

What are some of the most important ways in which the ical republican model of citizenship differs from our current model of citizenship: Introduction: The classical republican model has grown rapidly and no one is unaware of the popularity of it. We cannot ignore its importance in the past and present as well. As in the past classical republican model has its influential ideas about political thoughts in Rome, Revolutionary America and others that were greatly used, but it has also paved path for the ideology of politics in current era. This is bases which lead to the ideas of liberalism and communitarianism. The wisdom and master attempts of the old republicans' have provided the way for innovative political ideas for new republicans. No doubt the classical republic model of citizenship differs in a number of ways from the current model of citizenship but there would be no wrong in saying that the current model of citizenship has been derived from the same classical republican model. Classical republican model and current model of citizenship: The classical republican model emphasizes more about the common good than the rights. It has three basic components based on the old Roman ideas; these are: res publice, virtus and civitas. These three concepts can be easily defined in our terminology as the following: 1. Political animal - politic life as best life 2. Virtuous citizens- common good over private interest 3. Necessity of citizen to protect society from arbitrary power With this concept of model, the people living in the society are concerned about the common good of the people more than their own benefits or rights and that is how a good life is possible. In a society, following such a framework, live in together with no exterior violence and have the internal cruel and arbitrary use of authority. The main tool of protection is the rule of law. It states that by following such a model people can enjoy the mutual respect and are able to live in liberty. For this model to follow, variety of republican tools are needed that work accordingly to make the government secure and stable. And these institutes need a strong moral background to work effectively. Citizens are advised to be active politically, participate in political activities and share their views. They should be well aware of their duties and responsibilities and should exercise them regularly to build up a successful society as defined by the laws of classical republican model of citizenship. The righteous energy to perform in political activities is provided to the citizens. For this they need to be honest, loyal and courageous. Religion and the compulsory education are the components of this model. According to this model of citizenship, a criterion is provided for the citizens following which they can become the ideal citizens. The duties of all the citizens are decided. This leads towards the ideal of direct democracy that means that all citizens play the equal part in political decisions. It means the rule by the people as apposed to the rule by the monarch. It demands the citizens to hold back their personal interests for their country. A framework of rules of law is defined for the citizenship that stresses on the individuals right. The objects of acts of virtue can easily be found in the classical republican model of citizenship, a feeling of eagerness that directs towards the simulation. It is the duty of every citizen to participate equally in the politics of the society hat is why he is called the political animal. The citizens are required to be virtuous, that is they need to opt for the decision that is in common benefit of every one over their individual interests. In this model it is not necessarily followed that the good work which is praised for its gracefulness really needs the admiration. From which it doesn't really benefit the other people, there is no advantage or profit for the people concerned, and that does not create any enthusiasm for simulation of such acts, or has any leaning or urge on them that can prompt any yearning attempt to do like this. But on the other hand, virtue has all its eternal effects on the subjects as well as the objects and the viewers. With its bare statement of actions, effects the mind of others and creates the rise of zeal to do the acts as same and creates the sense of admiration for the person who performed that and also appeals to the simulation of the doer. With the practice of virtue tat we longed to exercise, we can enjoy the good of fortune. This is the virtue that we are lucky to have knowledge of from our previous ones and will let our successor do get it from us. A practical stimulus is the moral good that can no longer be seen than it motivates an urge to put into practice. This is the only way to create the moral purpose which needs to make up. But the one who is busy in the mean business actually is getting nothing or very little, and is proving himself as neglecting what is really good. According to the classical republican of citizenship, a body of rules was formed to govern for the harmony and safety of common people. As we see in the case of Pericles. According to this model the whole system of the country was in the hands of the Pericles. This was done to promote the divine gestures and the signs of good among the people. But according to many people, this was kind of a kingdom system. Pericles used the way as Aristotle said; turn to distribution of the people's money against some case. He not only gained the popularity and was praised by the people but also had secured his power. He had won many glorious victory, had filled the city with spoils of war and money. He has enjoyed an utmost authority in the history. It is also known that all these were the rumors. According to the Ephialtes, Arsistotle had told him the truth of the story and according to that story the actual thing is that he had made him alarming and redoubtable to the government party. He proved himself to be uncompromising on the people's right and the just one. He used to call upon the people for account and after proving that one has done the wrong he used to prosecute them that is why his enemies has lied against him. But the current system of citizen ship in America is quite different to tat one. It is a mixture of public and political rendezvous. These days the younger Americans posses a strong block of political ideas and their representation in the political decisions is vital. In the current model of citizenship, civic engagement is an important component. More social work has been performed by the government after the creation of modern welfare state. A coincidence of civic and political goals is found in the current environment. Nonprofit, charitable and volunteering service organizations are formed that are meant for the welfare of common people. These organizations play the vital role in solving the public problems politically. Still there are some who find no connection in the civic and political activities. As it is known that in the 21st century, the good citizenship is achieved by the involvement of both civic and political engagements. In the current model of citizenship in America a liberal democracy is seen. The public issues are being addressed independently in both the government and private organizations. A coalition in the government and the civil societies is seen. the civil organization are dealing with the matters of religion, neighborhood, families organizations as clubs, schools, institutes etc. both parts are important for the survival of democracy and not a single one is sufficient for this purpose, as the civic resolution cannot address the problems without the support of government and the politics can not reveal out the publics problems unless there is a civic body functioning there. A relatively more sophisticated political system is found in America with much more involvement of civic engagements over the traditional systems of politics. These can be found as voting, sand other focus on the organization for the public actions, these organizations are not only governments that implement their own policies but the civic and corporate organizations playing role at the part of public benefits in the central arena. That is not always possible to find out the exact extent of change that these new generations' ideas and implementations have been made, because of the erroneous data. There are the behaviors and attitudes that help in judging the difference. The current American population is made up of the four age cohorts of civic and political engagement. A view is that the participation level of people in the political activities increases with the age, so the current participation of the American youth is a good sign for future as it is better than the older Americans. Hence the second thought is that the extent to which youth take interest in the political activities are very less as they do not involve in the activities like voting, campaigns, other political activities, making complains to the government and they very less believe in the citizenship. Mostly generation is economist and has a firm believe tat strength of a nation more depends on its strength of resources and power and less on the political situations. But it is worth noted that the new generation has totally innovative ideas about the politics, they are quite different from the older ones, and at times are much help full, so while taking any political decision, their involvement in such meetings is vital. Any how with the involvement of both political and civic organization a real change in the citizenship has been noticed. The facilities that are seen around for every person, no matter for what class he belongs to. With the private and non profit sectors, the solutions to public concerns have rapidly been sought. Public engagement is always found in the matters of their own as school, churches clubs etc. the participation of public in politics to such an extent depicts the picture of true democracy. A view of liberal democracy is found. To mobilize the younger Americans, consumer politics is playing a very important role. The involvement of the youth is expected to add more skills and politics to the already endeavoring political and public activities. Conclusion: The classical republican model of citizenship is known for its popularity and its influential ideas about politics and citizenship that were greatly used in the ancient period. This model is more about the common good of the society rather than the individual rights, and calls all citizens the political animals. The model of citizenship currently seen in America is though apparently different from that one but is basically derived from the older model of classical republican. It is reformed according to the needs of present age so can be called as an advance version of Classical republican model of citizenship. With some of the additional things and some amendments, but the main idea is the same. As the time passes on and new developments and technology is made, the needs are changed accordingly, and the society needs to restructure its model frameworks to accommodate these changes and to survive with the time. Hence the earliest model was though good for its time that cannot work in today's age. The current model facilitates the society with the present day requirements A little difference is that the current model emphasizes on the individual rights more than the older ones. Reference: Richard C. Box, Public Administration and Society: Critical Issues in American Governanc, M.E. Sharpe, 2004 Read More