By Erika Estrada Ruiz, Electoral Counselor of the IECM

Civic culture is a set of values, behaviours and norms that guide the responsible participation of citizens in public life and in the construction of a democratic society. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Greece with the rise of city-states where people who enjoyed citizenship could influence and make political decisions to determine the future of their society. However, at that time citizenship was a condition that was reserved only for people who had a certain lineage and place of birth and was restricted to slaves and women.

During the French Revolution and the wars of independence of the 19th century in places like America, there was a renewed interest in civility as a form of social and political coexistence, based on the values of equality, freedom and a form of democracy that was expanding to grant more rights to more people.

From there, the concept has evolved and adapted to changing political contexts, introducing values such as tolerance, respect, non-discrimination, parity and responsibility; adapted to visions that take into account the conditions of groups of people who have historically been at a disadvantage, such as: women, indigenous people, people with disabilities, migrants, young people or people of sexual diversity.

Today, authorities such as the Electoral Institute of Mexico City (IECM) promote values for coexistence in a democracy where the scope of civic culture has expanded beyond the public sphere to be applied to contexts such as labor, commercial, intra-family and even couple relations, since it is believed that a society cannot aspire to be more democratic if the formation does not begin from the most intimate sphere of people.

In this respect, the IECM has dedicated various editorial efforts - such as the “INCLUSIVE” series[1] - to promote awareness on issues such as: the rights of migrants, people with indigenous identity, people deprived of their liberty, etc. In addition to teaching various workshops on topics such as: democracy and masculinities, democracy in the home and democracy and sexuality.

As an example, in March 2023, the IECM published, as part of its editorial collection “Workshops: Free and Solidary Women”, an issue of great interest to young people, dedicated to exploring and explaining the influence of the values of civic culture and democracy in the construction of more just and equitable relationships.

This contrasts two types of coexistence in relationships: one democratic and the other conflictual. The first is that in which there is a desire and intention to recognize human dignity and rights through respect and the construction of agreements.

On the other hand, the conflictive form of the couple focuses on a dynamic in which both parties fight to impose their power through violent practices that can be psychological, economic, patrimonial or physical.

In this modality, three phases of violence in couples have been identified:

“1) Build-up of tension. In which the violence exerted is primarily psychological. The aggressor shows increasing irritability, intolerance and frustration: he insults, isolates, criticizes, humiliates, blames others for his mood, becomes jealous, stops talking, argues and does not allow others to talk. 2) Outburst of violence. This is the result of accumulated tension and leads to the loss of all possibility of communication with the aggressor, who releases his tension by exerting violence, especially physical, psychological and even sexual; however, after this he reacts by recognizing the injuries caused to his victim and arguing that it was an accident. 3) Honeymoon: in this phase there is a moment of reconciliation, when the aggressor shows remorse, not for the fact of having exploded in a violent manner but for having gone too far in the way he did it. However, the situation reoccurs and the reactions will most likely become more and more violent.”[2]

For a couple interested in living their relationship through a democratic modality, the key is not to try to avoid conflict, since this can arise in any situation when the interests, values, aspirations or needs of people begin to conflict, but to try to resolve it peacefully.

To this end, the IECM suggests some steps from the perspective of a democratic and civic solution to the conflict, which are:

1. Clarify the central issue and identify the problem, separating people.

2. Jointly identify the prevailing needs and interests.

3. As a couple, identify the democratic values, such as freedom, dignity, tolerance, respect, etc., that contribute to the solution.

4. Jointly propose alternative solutions.

5. Choose the most convenient alternatives for both parties.

Internalizing these steps and practicing them consciously and permanently in a self-critical manner brings various benefits not only for the couple but for society, since people who choose the democratic modality constantly learn from their experiences and serve as an example to other people, in addition to being able to project their behaviors in other areas such as work, school or community participation.

As can be seen, the promotion of civic culture and the values of democratic coexistence require a comprehensive effort that takes into account the diversity of ages and social conditions, seeking a focus on children and young people. It is crucial to develop inclusive pedagogies that demystify the notion that democracy is exclusive to those who dedicate themselves to politics or government. The basis of society lies in people and the interactions they establish with each other. Therefore, it is essential that all individuals, regardless of their field of action, understand their role in the construction of a democratic society and actively participate in it.

In conclusion, the promotion of civic and democratic values at the micro-social level not only contributes to well-being and harmony within interpersonal relationships, but also has a positive impact on society as a whole. By fostering coexistence based on mutual respect, tolerance and peaceful conflict resolution, a powerful example is set for others and the foundations for a more just, equal and democratic society are strengthened. It is therefore essential to continue to actively promote civic culture and democratic values at all levels of society, from the most intimate relationships to the public and political spheres.

[1] Available in the IECM digital library: http://portal.iedf.org.mx/biblioteca/#
[2] IECM (2023) “Democracy in Couples”. In: Workshops, Free and supportive women.
Available at: http://portal.iedf.org.mx/biblioteca/descargasC.php?id=517