citizen participation Flashcards
What are some opportunities and barriers to citizenship participation?
Opportunités-politics, local community , wider community and serving as a magistrate
Barriers-busy lives , lack of interest , lack of awareness
Indirect and direct action
What is it ?
Examples ?
Direct action-when people try achieve political goals themselves eg campains boycotts strikes
Indirect action-when people try to influence politicians to act for them eg voting lobbying pressure groups
Why do people contribute to society?
Concern about making a difference
Personal experience
Influence from culture or religion
Ambition
Why people don’t participate in politics ?
Lack of interest
Physical obstacles eg time
Lack of knowledge
Feel like their voice will not make a difference
How can we improve voter engagement
Make voting compulsory
Citizenship education
Make voting more convenient
Improve relationships with politicians
What is Digital democracy
Advantages
Disaadvantes
It’s the use of technology to engage voters into politics
Makes voting easier and more accessible
High security is needed
Improving participation through social media
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Messages can be targeted to voters
Shares and likes help send a message
Fake news can confuse voters
Politicians need to be careful on what they post
Name 2 non democratic and democratic countries
Non-north Korea and Syria
Demo-Norway Sweden
Democratic and non democratic features
Demo- free and fair elections ,freedom of expression,most citizens can vote and stand for election, free press
Non-no free press , has dictators ,no rule of law, can be punished for criticism
What are public serves and examples
They include schools hospitals courts
Funded through the government and are staffed by paid workers
What are charités and voluntary groups
They allow citizens to volunteer their time and skills
Work to support a cause in society and make no profit
Aim to raise awareness and funds to create a change
Eg Oxfam wateraid
Interest and pressure groups
Interest groups -people that share a common interest that may or may not be political
Pressure groups -interest groups that put pressure on the government to adopt policies to help the issue that they care about or influence public opinion
They can be local national or even international
They hold the government to account by spreading power and influence throughout society
Insider pressure groups consult the government for expert info eg the British medical association
What are trade unions?
Trade unions act on the behalf of workers
They provide workers a voice and represent their interests to their employers
Eg they protect workers right ,pay and conditions
they can represent at a tribunal or use collective bargaining
Working together to use power and influence
It’s much easier to improve society by working together
When citizens pool their efforts they can increase their power and influence on politicians and public opinion
rights in the workplace
a contract of employment
a minimum wage
protection from discrimination
higher national living wage
health and safety
these can be protected by negotiation representation and support
the media
what is free press
the media has a role in influencing and informing the public
free press means the media can report without government sensorship
why may the government need limit freedom of press
the government may need to sensor certain bits of the press for reasons like national security or to maintain public order
rights of the media
freedom of expression is a human right
the media can criticize governments without being punished
media can make sure businesses and politicians are not breaking the law
press regulator
regulation is important to set out the medias responsivities
the leverson enquiry
followed criticism of the media due to a lack of respect to a family with a missing child
reasons why sensorship may occur
to protect our national security
respect court case restriction
protect people rights
public opinion
the views people hold on that issues that effect our lives and community
government and those in power
government itself is concerned about shaping public opinion
political parties employ spin doctors-media experts who tailor their messages to maximize the effectiveness
the eu
aims-to encourage co-operation on issues like peace security trade and the environment and social issues between countries
uk joined in 1973 and left in 2016
has 28 member countries
-european commision,parliment,council of ministers and court of justice
the council of europe
aims-promote human rights ,democracy and rule of law
set up in 1949 to rebuild and maintain peace
uk was a founding member and permanent representative
cant make binding laws but can enforce international agreements
benefits and drawback of being in the eu
(free trade)
the eu is a trade free area meaning there are no expensive border checks
companies in these countries have access to a market of over 500 million people
competition in this market helps keep prices low for consumers
-members are obliged to give preferential treatment to other members
benefits and drawback of being in the eu
(FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE )
eu regional funds provide financial support for the regeneration of depressed areas and outdated infrastructure
-members have to pay into the eu to fund all of the operations
benefits and drawback of being in the eu
legislation
the eu has contributed to peace since ww2
there is cooperation across borders on fighting crime
people living in the eu can live ,work,travel in any eu state
-members of the eu enforce arrest warrants for citizens of other countries
eu had primary
setting standards for consumer rights
traders must provide clear info for consumers
consumers are protected by product liability directive
The un
It’s a international organisation
Set up in 1945. To avoid another war
193 member countries
Upholds international law and delivers humanitarian aid
Promotes sustainable development
What are some sub bodies of un
The human rights council-uphold human rights
The world food programme -helps get aid to countries in disaster
UNICEF-helps children over the world
Functions of the un
Maintain international peace and security
Protect human right
Deliver aid
Uphold international law
NATO
Set up in 1949to defend Western Europe
Aims to guarantee freedom and security of members by military and political means
The commonwealth
Made up of countries that were once in the British empire
The king is the head
Promotes economic social and sustainable development
Supports democracy peace
World trade organisation
International organisation that deal with trade between countries
Set up in 1995
Puts in rules on how countries do trade with each other
Aims to make trade free and open
Free press
Media not controlled or censored by government censorship
What is the press regulator called
Indépendant press standards organisation
What’s is the least used way to resolve international conflict
Humanitarian aid
Benefits and drawback of the uk being in the un
The uk can count on assistance from other members in case of disaster
The uk has financial assistance from the world bank
-the uk has to pay a mêmber ship fee
Contribute troops
Benefits and drawbacks of the uk being in nato
Uk military can share expert knowledge with other countries to help win in conflict
Working together with like minded countries can help improve security
-Uk is commîtes to send troops over to serve under command
Uk is committed to spend 2% of its budget on nato
Benefits an drawbacks of the uk being in commonwealth
The uk benefits from strong connections with other countries
The uk can rely on support from other members if attacked
-the uk pays into the commonwealth
The uk has to uphold peace and democracy
Benefits and drawback of the uk being in the world trade org
Trade is smoother as all the countries know the rules and stick to them
It helps to resolve trade disputes
-Membership involves a commitment to avoid barriers to trade
The uk can not be biased in any trade
International court of justice
The icoj settles legal disputes between member nations of the un
Humanitarian intervention
Where countries act to tackle the abuses of human rights in another country
NGOs
Bodies not run by the government
Not profit
Might be charities wateraid oxfam,unicef or save the children
they can work with governments
dont take sides in conflict
How resource impact ngo
They heavily relie on funding from the public can work with governmental organisations
Mediation
Involves bringing together different sides from a dispute
Aimed to find a negotiated solution
Neutral third party
All sides must be heard
Sanctions
Penalties for breaking rules in international situations
Put pressure in sides
Eg not letting a sell goods
Ban on selling military equipment
Expelling The countries diplomats
Force
Force is last resort
Eg military
Supplying equipment
And setting up no fly zones
UN Security Council
Not a government and doesn’t make laws
Has representatives from all countries who vote on key isssues
If there is conflict then they discuss what actions to take
what are the genva conventions ?
they are a set of key agreements in international humanitarian law
they are accepted by most countries and set out the rules of war
what is international humanitarian law
the rules set out between countries that protects the human rights of citizens during war
international criminal court
set up in 2002 in netherlands
independant from the un
hears the most serious cases eg genocide
only when national courts cant deal with a case
