Everything is political, and nothing is resonant
Political engagement mirrors the way we stay politically engaged in political discourses.
Listen to the audio version of this article here!*
The modern political landscape is a paradox. Whether we realize it or not, politics has seeped deeply into most facets of everyday life, no longer confined to TV broadcasts, newspaper headlines, or inside City Hall. Gone are the days of avoiding political discussion. Now, everything that happens in the world is delivered instantly to our social media feeds and presented in easily digestible form.
We celebrate this accessibility as progress. Our digital ecosystem makes it so that we are aware of the political, social, and economic realities that engulf us. But not only are we made aware of politics—we live it too. Everything from the price of groceries and gas to the continued censorship and intimidation student activists continue to face over Palestine, to our government passing bills designed to degrade quality of life and instead protect profit interests. The central problem of our times is not that we live in a politically ignorant or apolitical world. In fact, it’s the opposite.
The paradox of politics lies in the fact that while politics defines our everyday realities, we see very little actual change in the world. Political awareness, while important, is hollow without organized and sustained political action, and the disconnect between these two ways of political engagement has never been clearer.
The rise of social media has created an era of hyper-awareness about politics. We are constantly updated on the crises unfolding around us—climate change, wars, bills and policies, and systemic injustices. Yet, at the same time, political movement-building that envisions a pathway towards real, grassroots change—as opposed to incremental reforms—has withered.
According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), membership in institutions like unions, which were once central to collective action, has been steadily declining. And with the proposal of the Canada Strong Act (Bill C-39), which gives the federal labour minister unilateral power to end lawful strikes if they are deemed against “national interest,” it will be even harder for the working-class to organize to demand better working conditions, pay, or other workplace changes that support dignity over profit. Beyond unions, protests and rallies in our politically saturated world erupt in response to injustice, but often fizzle out when the news cycle moves on. And most frustratingly, it seems that every national election period, the vast majority of voters are forced to choose between the lesser evil.
Part of the issue is the trend-based way in which we engage in politics. Social media keeps us informed on the latest news, but demand for novelty arises as a consequence, ensuring that each crisis is quickly replaced by the next. It offers a facsimile of activism, where a sense of fulfillment can be achieved by taking a stand on an issue without having to actually do anything.
Ultimately, are we doing enough to be politically active? For many, the answer is complicated by the excuse of lack of time. As students, our lives are undeniably busy, which makes it easier to justify staying politically informed as simply enough. This passive logic is a convenient way to ease existential anxieties and the guilt of inaction without disrupting routines.
But, while we as students may find it convenient to believe the lack of time and busy schedules as the culprit behind the paradox of politics, the real barrier is the perceived complexity of political participation. It is far easier to consume the bite-sized version of politics and news by our favourite online commentators or algorithm, rather than to seek out and commit to meaningful political action.
Sometimes, we do end up taking political action in the form of voting, donating, boycotts, protests, and petitions. These moments prove that collective action is possible and does drive tangible change. Yet, even when progress is made, it seems ephemeral. The impact feels disproportionately small in the scale of the problems we face—whether that’s the ambitiously unfolding climate crisis, policy-driven privatization of our public infrastructure, or Doug Ford entering another term as Ontario’s premier. The energy behind a movement dwindles along with its hype, because too often, what we call a movement really just feels like a collection of rallies we feel obligated to attend or petitions to sign—leaving the community disillusioned until the next campaign catches on, and so goes the cycle.
But, the issue isn’t that the actions we take are necessarily ineffective—even though they could be more disruptive—it’s that they are overwhelmingly solitary. Political engagement mirrors the way we stay politically aware or engage in political discussion. We do it mostly through online means, individually, and detached from collective responsibility.
When action does happen, it tends to be reactive. We are in a cycle of constantly responding to the latest crisis, putting out fires as they come up. These efforts offer temporary relief, but they rarely address the root causes of problems. Governmental failures, the protection of profit interests over people, environmental destruction, the erosion of Indigenous sovereignty and marginalized peoples’ freedoms, distrust in media, a democracy on life-support, and the fact that our global economy—whether we benefit from it or not—is essentially propped up by profits extracted from foreign wars and genocides, appear at once too complicated and emotionally stifling to even begin thinking through, let alone organizing against. It is daunting to challenge systems that are so deeply ingrained in our society to the point that they seem inseparable from our daily lives as students, consumers, and workers. This level of change calls for an overhaul of the entire societal structure, rather than a reactive approach.
We know change requires more than just individual effort, but we lack the robust organization and accountability systems for unified action that do not bow down to threats or placates to half-way reforms when what we, as the people, really deserve is lasting, systemic change. With rising uncertainty, motivation to engage in political action fades. If no one else cares, why should you? The current individual-based structure of political action and education, and the lack of results it produces, leads us to doubt the power of the people—and that’s the real damage of this paradox.
When action does happen, it tends to be reactive. We are in a cycle of constantly responding to the latest crisis, putting out fires as they come up. These efforts offer temporary relief, but they rarely address the root causes of problems. It is daunting to challenge systems that are so deeply ingrained in our society to the point that they seem inseparable from our daily lives. The level of change our future demands calls for an overhaul of the entire societal structure, rather than a reactive approach.
Therein lies the tension: how can we achieve change on that large of a scale? Most of us recognize the need for transformation, yet we remain frozen by the insurmountable magnitude of the challenge. Here, we fall back on political awareness, allowing it to comfort our perceived lack of ability to enact political action. The solution begins with community organization.
Our presently declining institutions can become the starting point for change. We need to build stronger, more resilient communities through collective action and shared purpose. Next, we require decisive, even radical action. To break the status quo, we must move beyond mediating the symptoms of the disease and engage in disruptive actions that challenge entrenched power structures. This includes challenging the two-party system by voting in a socially democratic direction—and demanding a people-first politics from our elected officials and those running for office. It means taking consistent, lasting stances when it comes to boycotts, protests, and ideologies—and not allowing them to die down once the social media trend or news cycle has run its course.
In the age of information, our society has drastically changed the way it talks about politics. The ease and speed with which we can access the global events and perspectives has created a culture of constant awareness that risks emotional exhaustion rather than energizing people towards change.
With how involved we are in the political sphere online, it can feel like staying informed is equivalent to participation. Yet, despite seeing politics entrenched in every sphere of life, we struggle to see any real change in the world. Awareness, no matter how widespread, cannot dismantle the systems that hold the status quo in place. For that, we need sustained, collective action. Building a better future begins when we let go of the idea that being informed is the same as being active.
*AI-Generated Audio Transcription Disclaimer
The audio transcription included in this article was generated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology with the purpose of improving accessibility for our readers and providing an alternative opportunity to engage with The Medium‘s content. Please note that AI-generated transcriptions may contain errors or inaccuracies in pronunciation, wording, or interpretation.
The original written article remains the authoritative version of the content. If you notice an error in the audio transcription, please contact social@themedium.ca so we can conduct further reviews and corrections.
