Question

What is the importance of public opinion in a democracy? Describe the various agencies through which public opinion is expressed.

Answer 1

Approach:

• Define public opinion and its importance in a democracy.
• Discuss the several agencies like Press, Radio, T.V., Internet, Educational Institutions etc through which public opinion is expressed.

The term ‘public opinion was coined by philosopher John Locke in the 17th century. However, the concept itself predates Locke. Vox populi or ‘voice of the people' is a similar Latin concept. Today, public opinion is defined in the following way: collective evaluations expressed by people on politico-social-economical issues, policies, institutions, and individuals.

Importance of public opinion in a democracy:

• Listening is essential in a democracy. People have a right to be heard by their representatives. That is what legitimises democracy in the public eye and builds trust in government and its institutions. The functioning of a stable society is impossible without the means of free-flowing two-way communication – talking and listening– with an openness to the other's point of view.
• Public opinion can act as a check on leadership, as the members of the public can express their dissatisfaction with politicians who refuse to take their opinions into account and vote them out of office.
• Presenting the views of the mass public to government leaders who are making decisions that will affect society. Leaders often monitor the public pulse when making policy decisions, especially when they face an election campaign.

Various agencies through which public opinion is expressed:
By agencies of public opinion, we mean all those organizations, institutions and groups which significantly contribute to the formulation and expression of public opinion. In every society, a large number of people and agencies play an important role in the formulation and expression of public opinion.

According to Bryce, three types of people contribute significantly to the formulation, expression, and promotion of public opinion.

1. The people who build public opinion. This category includes the legislators and journalists who by their views and use of mass media act as agencies of Public Opinion.
2. The people who are active actors in social and political life. These are well-informed and active people who direct public opinion in a particular direction.
3. The third category includes people who arouse public opinion. These are the people who take part in public meetings, agitations, movements, and demonstrations.

The following are the major agencies of Public Opinion:

• Press: Newspapers, periodicals: magazines—in fact, the Press i.e. the print media as a whole act as an important major agency of public opinion. The press discusses and analyses every important issue of public concern and the editorials, write-ups, and news analysis always play a big role in the formulation and expression of public opinion.
• Legislature: Legislature is formed by the elected representatives of the people. It is an assembly of political leaders. It acts both as a mirror of public opinion as well as the agency for the formulation and expression of public opinion. Legislative debates, the publication of records of the debates of the legislature, and the views expressed by the legislators both inside and outside the legislature play an important role in the making and mirroring of public opinion.
• Public Meetings and Rebates: In every democratic state people have the right and freedom to form associations, hold meetings, processions and demonstrations and discuss all issues of public importance and concern. Public meetings as such are agencies for the formulation of Public Opinion.
• Political Parties: Political parties are the agents of political education. These provide all information to the people regarding the activities, successes, failures, omissions, and errors of the government. Each political party tries to create public opinion in its favour. It organises meetings, agitations, demonstrations, processions and movements for highlighting issues of public importance. All these activities play a role in the formulation of public opinion. Political Parties act as important, useful and active agencies for interest articulation interest aggregation and political communication. These play a major role in the formulation of public opinion.
• Radio, T.V., and Internet: In this age of information revolution Radio, T.V. and the Internet contribute significantly to the formulation of public opinion. Radio and T.V. talks and debates act as motivating factors for the formulation of public opinion. These act as agencies of political education. The use of these during elections acts as a means for making and changing public opinion.
• Educational Institutions: In the educational institution's classroom- lectures, speeches, meetings and seminars of different kinds are arranged. The eminent leaders, scholars, and writers participate in these meetings and assemblies and through the mutual exchange of views influence the views of the students and teachers.
• Also, the views expressed by the teachers in their classes influence the students. At times the views thus expressed become the part and parcel of the thinking of the students. Also, the syllabi meant for teaching in educational institutions are prepared with some specific objectives. All this helps in the formulation of public opinion.
• Religious Institutions: Man’s political views are also influenced by his religious views. In India, especially many political parties are based on religion. Religious congregations in India always have a political face. Under the cloak of religion, political views are expressed and spread. The people ‘faithfully’ follow these views and in this way, public opinion gets formulated.