An Inclusive Society – a Vision of the Future

An inclusive society is a society that over-rides differences of race, gender, class,

generation, and geography, and ensures inclusion, equality of opportunity as well as

capability of all members of the society to determine an agreed set of social institutions

that govern social interaction.

To create and sustain inclusive societies, it is critical that all members of society are able and

motivated to participate in civic, social, economic and political activities, both at the local and

national levels. A society where most members, if not all, feel that they are playing a part, have

access to their basic needs/livelihoods, and are provided with the opportunity to participate in

decision-making processes that affect their lives, is a society that will best foster principles of

inclusiveness.

The existence of a strong civil society is fundamental for active participation and making public

policies and institutions accountable. It fosters a respect for the rights, dignity and privileges of

all people, while assuming that they fulfill their responsibilities within their society. There must

be freedom for people to express diverse views and develop unconventional unique ideas.

Members of society must have the confidence to engage and interact with each other, and build

mutual trust while acknowledging their differences.

In order to encourage all-inclusive participation, there must be universal access to public

infrastructure and facilities (such as community centers, recreational facilities, public libraries,

resource centers with internet facilities, well maintained public schools, clinics, water supplies

and sanitations). These are the basic services which will create, when partly or fully put into place, conditions for people to have a sense of belonging by not suffering the painful

consequence of being unable to afford them. As long as both the advantaged and disadvantaged

have equal access to or benefit from these public facilities and services, they will all feel less

burdened by their differences in socio-economic status, thus alleviating a possible sense of

exclusion or frustration. It is important to note though, that access alone does not necessarily

ensure use of public facilities, as unequal relations within communities and households may

inhibit the use of facilities by vulnerable groups. Addressing the unequal power relations is

therefore a necessary step to increase participation.

Equity in the distribution of wealth and resources is another critical element of inclusive

societies. How the resources are allocated and utilized will significantly affect the orientation of

a society, either towards a more integrated, inclusive society, or an exclusive, polarized, and

disintegrated one. Therefore, socio-economic policies should be geared towards managing

equitable distribution and equal opportunities. Inclusive policies, instructions and programs that

are sensitive to and cater to the less advantaged and vulnerable need to be put in place in all

areas/sectors, including public health, and effectively implemented. There is a need for a strong

monitoring and evaluation tools to demonstrate whether inclusiveness was actually achieved, as

well as highlight areas for improvement

Another dimension of inclusive societies is tolerance for and appreciation of cultural diversity.

This includes societies that celebrate multiple and diverse expressions of identities. By

celebrating diversity, there is a recognition and affirmation of the differences between and

among members of society, which enables societies to move away from labeling, categorizing,

and classifying people, towards more inclusive policies.

Education plays a critical role in this area, as it will provide opportunities to learn the history

and culture of one's own and other societies, which will cultivate the understanding and

appreciation of other societies, cultures and religions. Particularly for young people, education

provides the opportunity to instill values of respect and appreciation of diversity. At the same

time, education can empower those who are marginalized or excluded from participating in

discussions and decision-making. Learning about the historical processes and changes allows

people to understand the way in which they and others have been affected by socially inclusive

or exclusive policies, which ultimately influences the values, choices and judgments of

individuals, in particular, those who are in decision-making positions.

Finally, there is a need to create positive narratives of an inclusive society of the future, and

enable each member of society to share, understand and contribute to those narratives. Potent

narratives on the future can act like a magnet drawing society towards its envisioned future. A

society with no vision for the future indicates a society in decline. Societies that maintain a unity

of purpose, or a shared vision embraced by the community, and encourage broad-based

stakeholder participation in the formulation of that goal, will be more inclusive as every member

will be working synergistically towards a unified objective.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 580