Participatory Democracy

By Ibrahim Al-Amin

Since ancient times, human aspirations—regardless of political systems—have always revolved around two fundamental values: freedom and justice. Over the centuries, different schools of thought have sought to answer a crucial question: How can freedom be realized for the individual, and what forms of organization ensure that its exercise does not harm the collective good?

Freedom without at least a minimum of justice loses its meaning in reality, just as justice without freedom can lead to servitude. Hence, the importance of linking political freedoms with social justice, and rejecting all forms of backward totalitarian regimes, which deprive societies of both freedom and justice.

It is therefore imperative that we collectively strive toward participatory democracy. Democracy is the central issue—an integrated process that cannot be bargained over or fragmented. Before engaging in discussions about power and its numerous shortcomings, we must first acknowledge the depth of the crisis and the difficulty of resolving it through narrow settlements between a few political forces.

The optimal solution lies in bringing the issue to society as a whole, involving everyone in addressing it through new and innovative foundations, foremost among them the need to give every Sudanese man and woman—without bias or discrimination—an opportunity to contribute to the solution.

To ensure the success of any participatory project, certain conditions must be met, including:

Democracy and transparency, enabling all parties to express their views freely, even from opposition platforms if necessary.

The right of all parties to access essential information.

Deepening awareness of the importance of dialogue.

We must recognize that emerging from the dark tunnel we live in will only be possible under a pluralistic, decentralized democratic system. What is needed today is a return to the people, the true source of legitimacy, and the establishment of citizenship in its broadest sense through genuine social partnership in shaping decisions.

Democracy is not merely about building institutions or introducing cosmetic reforms; it requires a comprehensive process of reform—political, economic, cultural, social, and organizational—across the state and society alike.