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9
Democracy and Equality not
just Economy, even now
Claiming Our Future has set an agenda at its recent Croke Park meeting
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T
HE state of our democracy is rarely a
focus for public debate. ‘It’s the econ-
omy, stupid’ is the order of the day. Yet
our democracy sorely needs some atten-
tion. The challenge to reinvent our democracy was
the focus for debate at Claiming our Future’s most
recent deliberative event.
Our institutions, as they currently operate, do
not appear to be capable of imagining and devel-
oping the new models of governance, economic
strategy, or social relations that might promise a
more equal, sustainable and participative society.
It seems they cannot look beyond recreating the
– troubled - past.
Political failure and the inadequacy of our
democratic institutions contributed aggressively
to our economic crisis. It was political decisions
that unleashed the banks from adequate regula-
tory control, gave the tax breaks and incentives
that enriched the developers, and allowed domi-
nance to the ‘market’.
The same institutions and processes do not
now appear able to escape the limits of their lack
of competence, their
relationship with the
economic elite, and
their horror of equal-
ity and environmental
sustainability. A polit-
ical fatigue has settled
down in the absence of
real alternatives.
The Claiming our
Future debates pri-
oritised a reinvention
of our democracy
from the local level. A
broader range of pow-
ers needs to be devolved
to the local level. Local
authorities need to be
able to raise their own
finance. These issues of subsidiarity were identi-
fied as a priority for campaigns.
There was strong support for developing more
participative forms of governance and decision-
making at local level. The issues of distance from
decision-making and powerlessness were iden-
tified as a key source of discontent.
Change in our democracy at national level
was also identified as a necessary focus in future
campaigns. The need for a Dáil that might be fit
for purpose was prioritised. The power of the
whip system needs to be reduced. Greater pow-
ers should be afforded to Oireachtas committees.
The electoral system needs reform if we are to
get politicians with a capacity to grapple with
the crises we face and if we are to get a diversity
of representation that reflects the actual compo-
sition of our society.
The danger to democracy in the silencing
of voices of dissent was highlighted. There was
strong support for a Constitutional provision to
protect advocacy by community groups repre-
senting those living in poverty and inequality.
Equality was noted as a key value to shape
democracy. It is potentially a shared value.
Accountability was identified as another such
value.
It is noteworthy that democratic change at the
level of the European Union was not accorded a
priority in the debates. A number of proposals
was put to the event but did not achieve the same
level of interest or support as action for change at
the local and national levels. This is challenging
in a context of the ever-increasing importance of
Europe in our affairs.
Two specific events were identified as off er-
ing a focus for the ongoing work of Claiming our
Future on these issues. The first is the promised
Constitutional Convention. There was a sugges-
tion for Claiming our
Future to organise
some form of alter-
native Constitutional
Convention – an alter-
native where the voices
of those experiencing
inequality and poverty
would have influence
and where the agenda
would be sufficiently broad to contribute to a real
reinvention of our democracy.
The 1916 centenary offers a moment for
examining the issue of our democracy. A real
republic would be governed by different values
and would require new political processes.
The Claiming our Future debates have set a
compelling agenda for what might be required
such a real republic.
It is
noteworthy
that
democratic
change at
the level of
the European
Union was not
accorded a
priority in the
debates
.
¨
Charles Stanley-Smyth, Niall Crowley and Siobhán
O’Donoghue at a Claiming our Future event
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