So We Think Democracy is Growing?: Rethinking Social Exclusion

This article describes how social exclusion works and is used in developed countries. According to Naidoo, social exclusion, while similar to the language of poverty, in developing countries this represents a "rather imperfect comparison." Naidoo interprets the term "social exclusion" to imply that we are looking at a minority constituency of citizens. According to Naidoo, it generally describes specific groups of citizens, "racial, religious, cultural and linguistic minorities, homeless people, people living with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered citizens and indigenous peoples, amongst others."

Naidoo makes reference to the fact that 600 million people are considered as part of the "disability movement", according to colleagues in the field. He suggests that when this is added to a "large number of women, young people and older persons who feel that they do not have an equal voice in public life" then it becomes an issue about "the majority of humanity and not clusters of minorities of citizens." For Naidoo, this raises questions about how democracy is working. In a country where citizens are not exercising the right to vote, Naidoo contends that it is the responsibility of political leaders to work harder to ensure that political democracy is accompanied by economic democracy "and the social and political inclusion of all citizens in the world."

Naidoo describes civil society organisations (CSOs) as needing to coordinate their work more effectively and to better understand how others function within different parts of civil society. He suggests that these groups should examine how communities of citizens are prioritized; who is socially excluded in the governance or organisations; and how work should be prioritised in respect to these constituencies. His article appeals to every individual to explore how a deeper respect and understanding for people and organisations working in othere areas so that common ground can be found that helps toward creating a more fair, just and equitable world.

Naidoo shares the following quote by Pastor Martin Niemöller written during the second world war: “When the Nazis came for the communists, I did not speak out because I was not a communist, When they came for the social democrats, I did not speak out because I was not a social democrat, When they came for the trade unionists I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews I did not speak out because I was not a Jew;. Then they came for the Catholics,and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. When they came for me there was no one left to speak out.”

In conclusion Naidoo suggests that it is time to raise critical questions about democratic practice, and to pose a big question: "Why is it then that even though the majority of people on this planet desire peace, justice, equality and abhor poverty, that global reality is so different? And they say democracy has burgeoned and grown exponentially over the last fifteen years?"