Nay Zin Latt - Elections and Political Awareness

A state is a government structure, usually sovereign and powerful enough to enforce its writ.

A state is a government with a constitution and sovereignty, and is subject to laws and regulations. To be considered a state, it must meet four (4) criteria.

(1) Having a government (Government)

(2) Having a defined territory (Territory)

(3) Population

(4) Sovereignty

Here, “country” is used by some as “State?” and by others as “Nation.” In fact, when the “Nation” level developed, it became “State.” (Nations must have developed before states.) The “Zulus” of Africa are not a “Tribe” but a “Nation.” They are descended from the brutal warriors of the past two centuries, such as “Shaka,” and are now all considered to be the Zulu people. Then the Zulu nation became a nation.

The United States of America was formed by the union of 13 colonies. Despite the immigrants, different cultures, and different languages, it was divided into 50 states and became the United States of America.

In local language, the term “country” is often used. The term “nation” was coined centuries ago, but it was not understood in the way we know it today. Groups of people living in a given area called themselves “nations,” which came to mean ethnic groups. The Latin word for “nation” means “birth,” “hometown.” There is also the idea that a culture is shared by many ethnic groups.

(17) The meaning that we understand today began to shift from the 17th century. Nation-State is the combination of a people (Nation) and a government (State), and in short, Nation is used by later people as a country that everyone understands.

 

 

" Citizen "

It is generally understood as those who live within a country. It is necessary to be recognized by that country. It comes from Latin and originally meant a person who lived in a city (City) as a “Citizen”. (1789) After the French Revolution, the concept changed slightly and the concept of citizenship, which included culture, history, and local characteristics, became more profound. This concept spread to other countries and the world. However, later, a person who lives within a country or is recognized by that country, even if he lives outside, is considered a citizen.

Political scientists unanimously agree that citizens should basically have the following nine things:

Elections and political awareness

(1) Freedom to form and join organizations

Freedom to form and join organizations

(2) Freedom of expression

Freedom of expression

(3) The right to vote

Freedom to vote

(4) The right to interact with public offices and organizations

Eligibility for public offices

(5) The right of political leaders to compete for support

Right of political leaders to compete for support

(6) The right of political leaders to compete for votes

Right of political leaders to compete for votes

(7) Other sources of information

Alternative sources of information

(8) Free and fair elections

Free and fair elections

(9) Laws, regulations, and policies that are based on public opinion and public will.

Institutions for making government policies depend on votes and other expressions of preferences.

Nation-building

Social scientists say that five (5) stages are required to build a nation.

( 1) Character

The identity of a country is the first thing to be found in the construction of a country. It should represent the people who lived in that country in the past. Otherwise, there may be crises later. During the Soviet Union, due to the great political influence of Stalin and Lenin, the influence of the communist system was dominant over the identity of the country. As soon as the communist power and influence were in their fists, the small countries that were part of the Soviet Union broke away with the explosion that they did not represent them.

This feeling was also the reason why the United States seceded from the British Empire. Equality among the races living in the country was also a characteristic of that country.

A more prominent example is Yugoslavia. The Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Bosnians, etc. who lived in that country were not represented. They faced political instability and secession. This was called an “Identity Crisis.”

( 2)      Legality 

Legitimacy. Legitimacy includes the legitimacy of the law, as well as the acceptance of the majority of the people living in that country. A government must be well-established to gain the respect and compliance of its citizens. The people must believe that the laws the government sets and enforces are correct and can be followed by the majority. Without legitimacy, without public acceptance, there is no nation. (No legitimacy means no nation.)

( 3)      Spread, uniform

In relation to the character and legitimacy of a country, a government should be equal to the majority of its people. In applying a law, everyone should be the same, regardless of cultural or regional differences. For example, even if regions within a country are different and have autonomy, all citizens should pay taxes and all regions should enjoy the same public holidays.

Governments first establish and enforce laws in capital cities. Then they gradually expand to affect other cities, towns, and regions. This is called Penetration. Lack of Penetration means that some governments write laws on paper but do not fully enforce them in practice, making exceptions.

( 4)     Participation

Participation means that the people are aware that they are under the rule of a government, and that they have the right to demand and speak out against the government. The fact that some countries are tax-free shows that there is no "participation" at all.

It is a situation where all adults are required to serve in the military, have the right to vote, and participate in activities without any specific exemptions.

In some African countries ruled by white minorities, there is an unequal access to rights and the application of the law. This is called the “Participation Crisis”. This crisis has to be addressed gradually. In the 19th century, the Reform Acts were gradually implemented.

The Spanish were much more advanced than the British in terms of elections and voting rights. However, the results of the elections were controlled by local leaders. This meant that the Spanish did not have equal participation.

( 5)      Distribution

Who gets what? It is based on the principle of "Who gets what?" The Crisis of Distribution cannot be solved in a fixed way. Although citizens vote equally in elections, when those elected come to power, they do not give equal rights to all citizens. It is not equal distribution. The Labour Party in Britain, Norway, Sweden and