Why does representation matter? How well are Italians feel represented in the political class? Which political system represents the Italian population better? Will the feeling of not being represented in the government lead to a right-leading government? This article revolves around those questions and the sense of being represented in the government or congress.
Definition
According to Britannia, representation in government is a strategy or procedure of encouraging the citizenry, or some of them, to shape legislation and government approach through deputies determined by spokespeople. Having somebody who will speak up or vote for you gives people the feeling that their opinion matters, making a change to the current establishment, and further, it is the power of democracy.
Why does representation matter?
Representation is one of the most important benefits of a representative government because individual citizens, or groups of citizens, are given a voice in their national political system. Moreover, the government would be incapable of functioning without representation. Representation is a form of streamlining the polling process to make the decision-making process efficient. Without representation, decisions are made without consideration for the implications they may have for any party or individual without a presence to provide input.
Furthermore, looking at the Civic Culture Study from 1959, political scientists Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba led teams that asked approximately 1000 people in each of five countries (USA, GB, West Germany, Italy, and Mexico) identical questions about their political attitudes. The study grouped its data into these categories: Cognition, Affect, Partisanship, Participation, Competence, and Socialization. Almond and Verba discerned three types of political culture:
- Participant: the feeling of having to participate in politics, participate in politics
- Subject: aware of politics but cautious about participating
- Parochial: not even much aware of politics
The study shows that most people can be seen as “Subjects”. Many people want to know what is happening around them, as politics influences them. But, there is a difference in people’s influence on the government, depending on each country.
Representation has a powerful meaning to the people, as most people believe that the government and its decisions have an impact on them and society in general. People want to know what is happing around them. That is why I believe that the political class should give them the opportunity to get engaged and make a change.
The influence of different (democratic) political systems
We have different political systems in our world; while some do not represent their population at all, some focus on representing their population as high as possible. For obvious reasons, democracy represents the people better than a dictatorship. Most democracies use either the parliamentary or presidential system. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages, and they approach different representations of the people.
First, I will give you the know-how about the different democratic systems, the current situation and the reform attempts of the various political parties in Italy. After that, I will give a look at the question: Does a change in the political system make a difference in the representation of the people?
In a parliamentary system, voters elect parties, and for instance, in the case of Germany, also direct candidates. They usually have to form a coalition in the Parliament; if no party in Parliament has a majority – this may be unstable. Then the Parliament selects and ousts the prime minister, who is usually a member of Parliament and delegated by it to form a cabinet, which guides ministries. The cabinet is generally composed of members of Parliament and can be seen as a sort of parliamentary steering committee that also drives the departments. In a policy slits, a “vote of no-confidence” may oust the cabinet. Examples of parliamentary democracy are Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
In a presidential system, voters not only elect the Parliament but also directly elect the president, so he is elected and serves separately from the legislature. The president then chooses a cabinet and departments for various topics, such as economics or education. In addition, the legislature cannot vote out the president. The advantage of a presidential system is its stability and certainty. There will always be a president to lead. The disadvantage is that the president and the legislature may be deadlocked, producing something similar to the immobilization that plagues the parliamentary system. Examples of a presidential democracy are the United States and Brazil.
There is also an in between-system, the so-called semi-presidential system, which you can find in France. There the cabinet still has a particular parliamentary connection. The premier is named by the president but can be censured and forced to resign by the National Assembly. If that happens, the president can dissolve the legislature and hold new elections.
At the moment, there is quite a meaningful discussion in Italy about which system is the best. For a better understanding of the current situation, have a look at Italy’s Constitution:
Article One of the Constitution of the Italian Republic states:
L’Italia è una Repubblica democratica, fondata sul lavoro. La sovranità appartiene al popolo, che la esercita nelle forme e nei limiti della Costituzione.
Translation: Italy is a democratic Republic founded on labor. Sovereignty belongs to the people and is exercised by the people in the forms and within the limits of the Constitution.
As you can see, the Constitution’s first article immediately tells us that the Italian political system is based on a democratic Republic. Specifically, Italy is a parliamentary Republic because the representation of the will of the people is given to the Parliament.
Now that you have the know-how, we can discuss the question: Does the change from parliamentary to presidential democracy make a difference in the representation of the people?
The change of the political system in Italy from the parliamentary to the presidential system marks a significant step because they have to change the Constitution. Take a look at both systems’ advantages: the parliamentary system represents a brighter group of people, while the presidential system can enforce stability more easily. In both scenarios, the president has the highest position. In a presidential system, the most power relies on the president, while in the parliamentary system, the strength relies upon the Parliament, and the president only takes a representational role. While the president is usually elected from one party and can only represent a specific group, the Parliament consists of different political parties and individuals. Due to their broad spectrum from left to right, it is easier to represent the population. The Parliament represents people, educates the public, structures interests, and, most important, oversees and criticizes executive-branch activities. Changing the political system in Italy might lead to more stability, but it will not solve the main struggles in Italy and might create new problems.
In a presidential system, the people can directly vote for the president, which gives them more power, but you can not say that the government will better represent them.
Will the feeling of not being represented in the government lead to a right-leading government?
Many people in Italy do not know whom to vote for in the upcoming election, as they do not feel represented by any of the Italian parties or even by the people who are supposed to represent the Italian population. Populist parties, such as the Brothers of Italy, tell people that if there are sick of the way it is now, they should vote for them because they want to make a change. Fratelli d’Italia was one of the only big parties that did not support the last government. Although Draghi had comprehensive support in Parliament and had such standing abroad, the alliance broke. It is always easy to believe others, but it is crucial to requestion it critically. Does the right wants to create a more excellent representation of the people, or do they want to have more power to implement undemocratic laws?
Italians want a change, but the question is: Under every circumstance? There is a question for the voters: how much do you accept having a difference in the current situation? What about undemocratic shifts towards the disadvantages of a particular group of people?
The feeling of not being represented by the government might surely be why it could lead to a right-wing government. But for sure there are other aspects.
In conclusion, in this article, you got an analysis of how Italians feel represented by their government and/ or congress. Indeed, there are opinions of some Italians not included, as it is pretty hard to tell everyone’s opinion. However, it is a perspective that matters to society and impacts Italy. Representation matters to not only Italians but also every individual. That is why I got some questions for you that might expand your horizons.
Do you feel represented by your government or, better saying, by congress? Do you think that your government is doing its job correctly? Do you believe the politicians in charge care about individuals’ struggles? Do you assume reform is needed to ensure essential future needs? Do you know which political party to vote for this Sunday? Think about these questions, and also feel free to leave a comment below.
Something to keep in mind: I wrote the article from a liberal perspective. Democracy, human rights, and Freedom are paramount for me, which is why I criticize the right-wing parties a lot, as they have different values towards them.
