7.3 Citizenship and Ideology

To what extent should we embrace an ideology?


Big Ideas:

  • Accept responsibilities associated with individual and collective citizenship.
  • Explore how ideologies shape individual and collective citizenship.
  • Examine perspectives on the rights, roles, and responsibilities of the individual in a democratic society.

Citizenship and the Influences of Ideology



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  When a person is born, he or she automatically becomes a citizen of the country in which he or she is born. In a liberal democracy, a newborn citizen inherits all the rights and freedoms guaranteed by his or her country's constitution. In Canada, this means the rights and privileges presented in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Often, these rights and freedoms are given little thought by many Canadian citizens. Sometimes, a Canadian citizen may not even know the details of the rights and freedoms as set out in the Charter.

As a citizen of a liberal democracy, knowing your rights is important. Equally important is taking the responsibilities of your citizenship seriously. You can easily imagine Canadian society if no one wanted to get involved.

Consider the following "What ifs..."

  • What if no one volunteered to coach sports?

  • What if no one in the community offered to help raise funds for various things?

  • What if your town or city held an election and no one ran for office?

  • What if your province held an election and no one voted?

These situations point out one thing: To make society better for everyone, people must become involved.

Unless citizens participate in their communities, whether in a local neighbourhood or a national or even global level, society suffers. In other words, citizenship has responsibilities and is a participatory process.		  
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"Democracy is the most demanding of all forms of government in terms of the energy, imagination, and public spirit required of the individual."

–George C. Marshall, American 5-Star General and 1953 Nobel Peace Prize Winner


Yes ... Liberal democracy constantly challenges citizens. Although the scale of size and power of the modern state is great, the challenge to participate remains.

Citizen + Rights and Freedoms + Responsibilities = Citizenship


Citizenship: Worldview and Ideology

An individual's understanding of citizenship is shaped primarily by his or her worldview and ideology. That is, the beliefs and values that a person bases their identity on also reflect in his or her views on citizenship.

Factors that affect beliefs and values:

  • Culture

  • Language

  • Religion and Spirituality

  • Environment and Relationship to Land

  • Gender

  • Media

  • Ideology

Remember Unit 1 and the factors that shape an individual's identity:


When an individual translates beliefs and values into actions, some of those actions become that person's participation in society. A person's participation in society and the life of his or her nation translates into citizenship.



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Have you ever wondered why individuals make different choices about citizenship? Why do some people seem uninterested in social issues and unprepared to become involved in influencing decisions, and others become excited and involved actively in these matters?

It is mainly due to a person's worldview and ideology.

A look at the following three general examples of citizenship will help you understand some of the reasons.

Example 1: Alienated Citizens...

  • are quite uninformed about the world

  • are unaware or are apathetic about the major issues facing society

  • believe that nobody listens to them so why bother

  • have great difficulty understanding or accepting the views of others

  • believe that authority exists only to hinder an individual's interests

  • see little point in becoming involved in the decisions of society

Alienated citizens have a worldview that anything outside their own sphere is either unimportant or perhaps threatening in some way. Their ideology keeps them from becoming involved in society in a meaningful way.

Example 2: Conventional Citizens...

  • are more prepared to take part in society's decision making

  • realize that social issues affect their personal lives

  • feel a need to take an interest in what is happening in society

  • have some knowledge of the issues in society

  • are willing to work within the political system

  • wonder if the most useful and practical actions are being taken by government to correct society's problems

  • are guided largely by society's expectations and by what is socially acceptable

Conventional citizens have a worldview that things outside of their own sphere also affect them and understanding what is happening in the world around them is important. Their ideology promotes their involvement with society and having opinions on issues. They may get occupied actively in voting, volunteering, or joining in informed discussions of issues, for example.

Example 3: Responsible and Effective Citizens

  • have a strong sense of how society's goals and their own personal goals relate

  • are aware of issues facing society and are willing to take action

  • are aware that many people think differently than they do

  • are prepared to accept the differences of others while not necessarily changing their own viewpoint

  • realize the importance of everyone taking part in influencing the direction of society

  • understand how to influence the decisions of society in practical and effective ways

Responsible citizens have a worldview that their actions both inside and outside their own sphere affect directly themselves and others. Their ideology promotes direct action in society through volunteering, being leaders in various groups, perhaps even running for elected office.


Think about your worldview and ideology. In the examples, a worldview and an ideology drives the individual's views of citizenship.

Where do you think you fit on the following spectrum of citizenship?