In city parks, university buildings and on busy roads worldwide, protesters are setting up camp or simply aggregating under slogans such as "We Are the 99%." Regardless of who they are, this monumental collective political mobilisation has ignited debates on civil engagement, distribution of wealth, and the future of socioeconomic policies in the 82 countries in which an Occupation has occurred. While the movement has already impacted the focus of the media and the roles of countless previously disengaged citizens, the changes and level of equality sought by protestors have yet to be achieved. More coherent than mindless protest, yet less structured than a public awareness campaign, the future of Occupy is up in the air.
Without a doubt, the cause is true. Their outcry against inequality, made tangible by powerful statistics describing the distribution of wealth in different percentiles of the population, represents an important issue that must be brought to the front of the Canadian political agenda. Severe economic disparity and all its implications have impacted the quality of life of millions of Canadians and have been issues that the government has ignored for decades. Nevertheless, the breadth of this issue, the complexity of its resolution, and the nature of the Occupy protest itself are obstructive to the movement's foundation. Government responsiveness to instances of civil engagement is highly reliant on the coherency of the movement's demands; although Occupy has presented a clear issue, its platform is muddled by the universality of the protest, causing fragmentation and stagnancy. Furthermore, the participants are of varying commitment to the cause and have varying levels of political knowledge, which robs the protest of some of its validity. The lack of leadership, specific political demands, and harmonious opinion within the movement has been a source of great criticism, and indeed impairs the likelihood of success.
That being said, the Occupy protestors stand for a deeper and more universal message beyond their political opinions. In a Canada where voter turnout has dipped as low as 58.8% in the past few years, political disengagement and apathy are often said to be the cause. However, a more profound idea is being revealed through this unique movement; the public is involved, interested, and active in politics, but their failure to vote is a deliberate action of contempt for the democratic system. The decline of our established democracy is then not due to the parties and leaders involved, but rather the operation of the political system itself, reflecting the emergence of unconventional participation due to a lack of access to or results from conventional methods. That our democracy serves to exacerbate the wage gap by responding only to the demands of the wealthy is a key feature of the Occupiers' grievances, and accounts for the seemingly contradictory trends of low conventional political participation with increased activism through unconventional means. While the establishment of economic equality is a long way off, the restoration of democratic integrity may be a change in the foreseeable future.
While subject to intense controversy and the cause of heated discussion, the Occupy movement is important for reasons unintended. The recognition of economic inequalities has brought under scrutiny the functioning of our democratic system; failures have been found both in granting equal representation and in operating to bring about the good of all. It is only through the progression of discussion, the mainstreaming of which was a foremost consequence of the protests, that effective response in the form of social policy and public administration will occur. In the meantime, we will likely see the full force of the movement emerge in both intentional and unintentional ways.
Without a doubt, the cause is true. Their outcry against inequality, made tangible by powerful statistics describing the distribution of wealth in different percentiles of the population, represents an important issue that must be brought to the front of the Canadian political agenda. Severe economic disparity and all its implications have impacted the quality of life of millions of Canadians and have been issues that the government has ignored for decades. Nevertheless, the breadth of this issue, the complexity of its resolution, and the nature of the Occupy protest itself are obstructive to the movement's foundation. Government responsiveness to instances of civil engagement is highly reliant on the coherency of the movement's demands; although Occupy has presented a clear issue, its platform is muddled by the universality of the protest, causing fragmentation and stagnancy. Furthermore, the participants are of varying commitment to the cause and have varying levels of political knowledge, which robs the protest of some of its validity. The lack of leadership, specific political demands, and harmonious opinion within the movement has been a source of great criticism, and indeed impairs the likelihood of success.
That being said, the Occupy protestors stand for a deeper and more universal message beyond their political opinions. In a Canada where voter turnout has dipped as low as 58.8% in the past few years, political disengagement and apathy are often said to be the cause. However, a more profound idea is being revealed through this unique movement; the public is involved, interested, and active in politics, but their failure to vote is a deliberate action of contempt for the democratic system. The decline of our established democracy is then not due to the parties and leaders involved, but rather the operation of the political system itself, reflecting the emergence of unconventional participation due to a lack of access to or results from conventional methods. That our democracy serves to exacerbate the wage gap by responding only to the demands of the wealthy is a key feature of the Occupiers' grievances, and accounts for the seemingly contradictory trends of low conventional political participation with increased activism through unconventional means. While the establishment of economic equality is a long way off, the restoration of democratic integrity may be a change in the foreseeable future.
While subject to intense controversy and the cause of heated discussion, the Occupy movement is important for reasons unintended. The recognition of economic inequalities has brought under scrutiny the functioning of our democratic system; failures have been found both in granting equal representation and in operating to bring about the good of all. It is only through the progression of discussion, the mainstreaming of which was a foremost consequence of the protests, that effective response in the form of social policy and public administration will occur. In the meantime, we will likely see the full force of the movement emerge in both intentional and unintentional ways.
