Importance of ‘Many Voices’ Advocating For Change in Society

Question Two

Advocacy in the society refers to the active support of a given idea or cause that is expressed through methods and strategies that influence the decisions and opinions of organizations and people (Bateman, 2010). In the economic and social development context, the objectives of advocacy are to change or create regulations, laws, policies, resources distribution or other policies and decisions that have an effect on people’s lives  and make sure that such kind of decisions lead to implementation. This kind of the advocacy is ,mainly directed toward the policy makers the society who include government officials, politicians, private sector leaders, civil servants, as well as to those that have decisions that influence policy makers like the journalists large NGO’s and development agencies (Fawkes, 2014). Advocacy in the society ensures that the desired change takes place, and that good decisions are made with regard to the matters that promote people’s welfare. When individual advocacy can be fruitful in influencing decision makers and bringing about change in the society, it is of great essence to have many voices advocating for change.

According to the utilitarian ethical theory, the organizations and individuals in the society should make choices and decisions that yield greatest advantages or benefits to the majority of the people in the society (Parsons, 2008). This ethical theory holds that human beings have the ability to predict the consequences of a given course of action based on the point system and, therefore, people are able to make the decisions that will have consequences, which are more beneficial to the society. When we have many voices advocating for the cause of action that will be good, has least harm, respects the autonomy, and, which is fair to the people involved, the policy makers will bow more easily as compared to having few voices advocating for the same (Scholte, 2012). This is because, in the societies that respect democracy and human rights, the policies and decisions that affect the society are made based on the common good of all the people. As such, if many people consider taking a given course of action to be appropriate for the society, the policy makers will have to bow to the pressure of many voices.

Having many voices advocate for changes