LORD Acton famously said, ‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ When citizens fail to hold their government accountable, a regime can accumulate unchecked power, weakening even the strongest checks and balances and leading to autocracy. John Stuart Mill’s reminder that ‘The price of liberty is eternal vigilance’ highlights the necessity of continuous public oversight to protect freedom and democracy. Without empowering citizens to remain vigilant, even a restored democracy risks slipping back into autocracy.
Political theorist Hannah Arendt defines an ‘active citizen’ as someone who engages in the community’s political and civic life, influencing decisions and contributing to the common good. This involves participating in democratic processes such as voting and advocacy as well as addressing social and community issues through protests and social movements. Arendt has emphasised that active citizenship requires not only knowing one’s rights and responsibilities but also actively shaping and sustaining the political community.
In Dictators and Democrats: Masses, Elites, and Regime Change, the authors argue that political, legislative and bureaucratic frameworks from previous regimes shape the rule of law and democracy in new regimes. Bangladesh inherited a legacy from British colonial rulers, one focused on resource extraction rather than public services. Consequently, each regime since independence has seen a trend toward growing authoritarianism. Without comprehensive reform, even well-intentioned new leadership may become autocratic.
The interim government, established after a student-led mass uprising that toppled the autocratic regime of the deposed Sheikh Hasina, is focused on state reforms before the general elections. However, the top priority should be to rehabilitate families of martyrs and the people who became injured during the movement while ensuring justice for those responsible for murders, rights violations and major corruption.
Reforming the entire state apparatus is a monumental task, especially within the limited time frame of an interim government. Experts recommend focusing on key areas such as rewriting the constitution, reforming the judiciary, bureaucracy, electoral system and the banking sector as well as addressing corruption and money laundering. However, the most critical element — empowering the people — seems to be missing from the agenda. Without active citizens, any restoration is likely to be short-lived, leaving the country vulnerable to a return to autocracy.
Philosopher John Locke, in Two Treatises of Government, has argued that individuals form a social contract to establish a government that safeguards their natural rights to life, liberty and property. If the government fails in this responsibility, the people have the right to overthrow it. As the primary stakeholders of the state, the people must ensure that the government acts in their collective best interest. To accomplish this, the population (a) must remain united around shared interests, (b) stay politically informed and (c) engage in social resistance when the government deviates from serving the public good.
The first and most crucial step in engaging citizens is to foster national unity and reconciliation. Despite factional differences, it is vital that all stakeholders should come together around a shared collective interest. The interim government can play a significant role by bringing various groups together to facilitate dialogues among political parties, civil society, professional associations and local government representatives. The aim is to address grievances and build a consensus on key national issues. To ensure a smooth transition, the interim government must clearly communicate its action plan and provide a timeline for a general election to transfer power back to the politicians.
Alongside system reforms, the interim government can launch ‘active citizenship’ programmes using the existing resources without requiring extra budget. Local government, field administration, agricultural extension services and the department of cooperatives can incorporate civic education at the local level under the coordination of the district election office. Teachers, students, trade unions, professional associations, the media, civil society organisations, and social activists can run their own campaigns. Large non-governmental organisations with rural networks can also play a significant role in promoting active citizenship.
Civic education programmes, especially at grass roots, will allow the government to directly communicate its reforms to the public and gather feedback for necessary adjustments. This approach will also help maintain a strong connection with the people and ensure continued support for the interim government.
Political awareness alone is not enough to become active citizens. Individuals must also engage in social activism, protests and resistance to ensure that state institutions uphold democratic principles and the rule of law. People must unite to combat corruption and advocate for good governance, justice and the rule of law both at grassroots and national levels. In How Ordinary People Change America, Frances Fox Piven highlights the power of grass-roots movements, showing how collective action by marginalised groups can transform systems and drive significant political and social change.
Transforming the entire population into active citizens is a long-term endeavour. Given the limited timeframe, the interim government should prioritise key areas such as promoting the importance of voting, electing honest and competent leaders and ensuring a fair electoral process. It is essential to reshape public perceptions of voting by emphasising that choosing capable leaders through a fair voting system directly influences social and economic well-being, including access to better governance, the rule of law, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
No political party now enjoys full public confidence and efforts to establish a viable third political alternative have yet to succeed. In this situation, citizens should be encouraged to vote for honest and competent candidates, regardless of party affiliation. Furthermore, to promote the participation of non-partisan independent candidates from a broader range of people, the interim government can remove existing barriers and simplify the complex electoral process for independent candidates.
By all definitions, students are active citizens and they have repeatedly led major changes. Members of the Students against Discrimination might be more effective by remaining in opposition rather than joining the interim government. Maintaining an anti-establishment stance would allow them to serve as a vigilant pressure group while joining the system could compromise their role due to potential conflicts of interest.
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Saifur Rahman is an IT specialist and social analyst.
