Democracy and Participation

Question 1

Give three ways in which the UK is suffering from a participation crisis.

Answer 1

IS suffering from a participation crisis:
✔ Turnout is lower than the last century - e.g. 1950 - 84% / 2001 - 59%.

✔ Fewer members of political parties - e.g. 1950
- Con (2.8 million)
- Now - Con (180,000)

✔ Lower power of trade unions / pressure groups - Trade Union Act 2016 - reduced their striking power.

Question 2

Give three ways in which the UK is NOT suffering from a participation crisis.

Answer 2

❌ Turnout is on the rise

• 2016 Brexit ref - 72%.
• 2019 GE - 67%.

❌ Greater support for minor parties

• 2015 - UKIP 3.9 million votes.

❌ Internet has brought a new generation of participants

• E-Petitions - bring forward inquest of Hillsborough
• YouGov polls. - rise in ‘slacktivism’?

Question 3

how is age the largest contributor to election outcome

Answer 3

2017: age was the most important predictor in determining voter outcome

• turnout increases with age

Question 4

what is the POWER report

Answer 4

(2006) - advocated switching to STV for general elections

Question 5

what is The speakers conference on Parliamentary representation

Answer 5

(2010) - advocated making parties ‘bottom-up’ organisations - recruit from more underrepresented groups

Question 6

3 ways media influences

Answer 6

1. agenda setting

• 2019 GE, media coverage of Brexit made it the central issue, influencing voters to consider parties’ stances on Brexit when making their decisions.

2. Candidate Framing

• 1997, framing of Major and ‘grey man’ vs Blair
• 2015, Miliband Edstone and bacon sandwich

3. Public opinion Polls

• (2010) Media focus on Lib Dems rise in the polls contributed to the perception of a ‘three-way race’, affecting voter strategies and expectations.