Concept of active citizenship

The concept of active citizenship is a very wide concept, whereas there are many opinions and formulations about it. The thing that almost all agree more or less about and we think of here is the concept, according to which, engagement of individuals and groups in public life and issues is implied.

Furthermore, there is a general accord that active citizenship deals with involvement of individuals in public life and issues that might be done in local, national and international level.
The term is specifically used in the local level to refer to citizens that would get involved actively in communities’ life, on tackling issues that might bring changes or to resist against unwanted changes. Active citizens are all the ones that develop knowledge, skills and understanding in order to be able to take informed decisions regarding their communities, and jobs with aim to improve quality of life there.
At the national level, this engagement starts from participation in voting to involvement in campaign, pressure groups, through to being a member of a political party.
At the international level, active citizenship might be included in movements for environment protection, fostering of fair trade, to decrease poverty and eradication of slavery.

An active citizen is not necessarily a “good citizen”, in the sense that he/she follows the rules or behaves in dignified manner. An active citizen might challenge existing rules and structures, although he/she should remain within boundaries of democratic processes and not be involved in violent acts. There is a group of values and general provisions that might be related to active citizenship, including respect of democracy, judiciary and rule of law, transparency, tolerance, courage to defend views and willingness to listen, work and rise up with the others.