Kosovo Human Development Report 2010 - UNDP Kosovo - United ...

5.1
Political participation
and exclusion –
the Kosovo paradox
Political participation is a key concept
of both political science theory and
political practice. A basic value of democracy,
it defines the way in which
trust is built and maintained between
governance and the governed. As with
any relationship, political participation
implies active effort – from authorities,
to provide fora for public opinion and
demonstrate political responsiveness,
and from society, to take advantage of
opportunities for political expression
and provide regular feedback, including
at the voting booth. The healthiest
democracies are those in which the
degree of effort is proportionate and
consistent between both sides, and
the widest range of participation is
supported.
Although democracy is, by definition,
the most participatory and representative
of all political systems, it naturally
produces a bias in favour of majority
groups, norms and values. Those
CHAPTER 5
Political participation and exclusion
“Without adequate levels of meaningful
participation and representation,
overall government performance and
accountability will suffer, jeopardizing
the establishment of an effective and responsive
democratic system.”
UNDP Kosovo Human
Development Report 2004
with the greatest platforms for expression
achieve the greatest representation
in government. By definition, majorities
have the most frequent opportunity to
express their views and the greatest likelihood
of generating a response. Inequality
of representation and influence are,
moreover, not “randomly distributed but
systematically biased in favour of more
privileged citizens – those with higher
incomes, greater wealth, and better education
– and against less advantaged
citizens”. 153 This is a potential weakness
of democracy, from the human development
perspective. It requires corrective
action by societies and governments,
in the form of outreach to the socially
weaker – often the poor, religious or ethnic
minorities, people with special needs
and, frequently, women. 154
Where such action is not taken, political
exclusion is the result. As such,
political exclusion and social exclusion
are deeply connected and mutuallyreinforcing.
155 Socially excluded individuals
and communities are less likely
to turn out to vote and to participate in
non-electoral ways in decision-making
processes. 156 Unable to make their voices
heard, and unconvinced that authorities
are interested in their opinions, they sink
out of public debate. They become politically
invisible – last on the list for decent
housing, services, jobs and future prospects.
In this way, nations undermine
their own capacity and potential.
Kosovo’s record in this regard is
strangely contradictory. Its legislation
regarding political participation meets
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