6.6.1.3   Participating in All Levels of Politics

(This is an archived page, from the Patterns of Power Edition 3 book.  Current versions are at book contents).

Local policy issues, such as planning and service delivery, are of a different nature from national issues such as levels of taxation and foreign policy.  In Europe, there is also a European Parliament with its own policy choices. 

People can demonstrate concern (6.4.2.1) at any level of politics, from local to global.  As described by the BBC, in an article entitled COP21: Thousands join London climate change march, there were "2,500 demonstrations taking place around the world" to demonstrate people's concern, in the hope that politicians would then agree to act to limit carbon emissions.  

They can use the Internet, to influence fellow citizens or politicians, all over the world (6.4.2.6).

Individuals can also vote at different levels in democratic systems.  In practice, though, people have insufficient information or awareness to vote meaningfully at multiple levels of political control – as described later (6.6.7).