We know that municipal (and regional)
democracy cannot but fail
if society at large is not fully
democratized.
But if people are awake
If they discover they have
a voice
That they become well informed
And conscious of their interests...
Step by step, change can
set in.
More widespread,
more informed,
more intense participation
of ordinary citizens
in decisions of local importance
will strengthen civil
society.
The individual benefits.
The community benefits.
The entire society benefits.
An example of
regional
resistance
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This proposal for discussion
refers to a German debate.
It concerns the contradiction
between a tendency to
centralize power,
to streamline organizations,
and
advocate "bigness." And
the
contrary tendency to "decentralize."
To give people locally
and regionally a greater
say.
To accept that they ask,
or may be asking tomorrow,
for a greater say, in their
own affairs.
An
Example of Regional Resistance
Why
Does The SPD Rank and File React Against
Reorganization
of Party Districts in NRW?
Presently,
the leadership of the Social Democratic Party in the German state of North
Rhine Westphalia (NRW) tries to restructure the party organization.
What they
want is a strong organization of the party in that state, under more direct
control of the party leadership in Düsseldorf.
Such “restructuring”
has already
occurred in a number of other German states, notably Bavaria.
This time,
the district organizations are not as willing to bow to the plans drawn
up by the leadership.
Especially
the party organization of the Western Ruhr District opposes the plan.
Nobody
should be naive enough to believe that the district leadership does not
have interests of their own that are behind their wish to preserve greater
independence.
The
rank and file will have to learn a lot in order to generate a district
“leadership” through which they can make themselves heard, instead
of one that is simply “professional,” that dodges pressure from below in
order to “preserve its independence.”
Capitulating,
more often than not, before pressure from the top of the party...
But clearly
– the district level is closer to the rank-and-file than the state level
or the federal level. To diminish its say in party affairs or to abolish
this level altogether is claimed to enhance effectiveness; it certainly
doesn’t enhance intra-party democracy.
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contribution to the debate /
Your
ideas and suggestions:
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