7. Civil Society, Media, and Political Participation

Civil Society

Non-political groups influencing social and political change.

Charities

Organizations limited in political activities and advocacy.

Political Activities Limitations

Charities cannot support or oppose laws or politicians.

NGOs

Non-profit organizations outside of charity regulations.

Interest Groups

Organizations advocating specific objectives to government.

Direct Democracy

System where citizens directly influence political decisions.

Insiders

Interest group members with significant political influence.

Watchdog Role

Media's function to monitor government actions.

Freedom of the Press

Essential liberty for democratic governance and accountability.

Media Scrums

Press gatherings for political communication and questioning.

Julian Assange

Founder of Wikileaks, known for leaking classified information.

Edward Snowden

Whistleblower exposing NSA surveillance practices.

Chelsea Manning

Leaked military documents revealing civilian casualties in Iraq.

Mark Felt

Informant in Watergate scandal, revealing Nixon's cover-up.

Hacktivists

Activists using hacking to promote political agendas.

Social Media

Platform for alternative narratives and civil engagement.

Trust in Government

Public confidence in government integrity and transparency.

Potential Harm of Leaks

Exposure of sensitive information can endanger lives.

Political Engagement

Active participation of citizens in political processes.

Resources of Media

Access to training and protection not available to all.