Civics and Community Engagement Lecture Notes PDF

Civics and Community Engagement PREPARED BY: ZARAQ KHAN Introduction to Civics  The word Civics is derived from a Latin word ‘Civicus’ which means ‘city’ or ‘related to citizens’.  In simple terms, it can be defined as the study of the rights, duties and responsibilities of c...

Civics and Community Engagement PREPARED BY: ZARAQ KHAN Introduction to Civics  The word Civics is derived from a Latin word ‘Civicus’ which means ‘city’ or ‘related to citizens’.  In simple terms, it can be defined as the study of the rights, duties and responsibilities of citizens with respect to their government.  John Dewey defines it as, ‘It is the study that helps individuals understand their role in community, the importance of participation and the functioning of democratic institutions. Importance of Civics  Sense of Rights and Responsibilities  Knowledge about Social Issues (political instability, corruption, inflation)  Promotes Social Cohesion (mutual respect, cooperation, understanding)  Empowers Citizens (providing knowledge, develop skills to participate)  Preserves Democracy (informed citizens, aware politically)  Supports rule of law (respect for legal processes and judicial decisions)  Cultivates Civic Virtue (fostering sense of duty, honesty and integrity) Main Concepts of Civics  Individuals  Man is a social animal  Necessity for interaction  Needs society (Human mental and intellectual development)  Society  Individuals’ interaction gives birth to social groups  Interaction between social groups makes society  Talcott Parsons describes society as “A system of total complex human relationships”  Population, Likeness, Differences, Interdependency, Cooperation, Conflict  Family  Family is a group of two or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption that resides together Functions of Family as a Social Institution  Bio-Psychological Functions :- Reproduction, Provision of Food, Housing & Clothing, Security and Care  Socio-Economic Functions :- Division of Labor, Source of Income, Property, Education and Health Care  Cultural and Religious Functions :- Transmission of Culture, Sense of Religion, Entertainment  Community  Community is people living within a specific geographical area in common inter-dependency  Kingsley Davis describe it as, “group of people that lives in a certain territory that embraces all aspects of social life  Locality, Common Life, Common Interests, Community Sentiments, Particular Name TYPES  Rural Community :- Villages, Agriculture as means of production , Lacks basic facilities  Urban Community :- Cities, Business Centers, Infrastructural development  Nation  Nation :- A group of people who share a common culture, history and identity  Lord Bryce defines it as, “a nation is such a nationality who have organized themselves politically  It holds collective tendencies towards their culture, religion, history, identity and politics  Basic Elements  Common Race, Common Culture, Common Religion, Common Language, Common Interests, Common History and Common Political Objectives