Is There A Participation Crisis? Flashcards
What is a participation crisis?
Refers to concerns about declining engagement in traditional democratic processes
How does voter turnout reflect a participation crisis in the uk?
Key indicator of public engagement in electoral politics, a cornerstone of democratic legitimacy
Low vt = widespread disengagement , contributing to a democratic deficit by raising concerns about the legitimacy and accountability of elected officials if large portions of the population are not voting
Means that gov r elected on a reduced share of the publics vote, undermining the principle of legitimacy bc in a representative democracy , the main source of legitimacy is free n fair elections.
Evidence for low voter turnout
For= in 1990s, turnout was regularly about 70 percent whereas post 2001 turnout has been around 60percent
Against= high turnout during 2016 brexit and 2014 Scottish independence referendum and voter hapathy suggesting that people r genuinely content shows that people r still engaged surrounding critical issues
One explanation for lower voter turnout
Political apathy, a lack of awareness or interest in political issues that affect society
How does political party membership result in a participation crisis in the uk?
Weakens connection between citizens n traditional political institutions.
When fewer people participate directly in party politics, it may reduce the influence of citizens on party policies,thereby affecting democratic accountability and potentially contributing to a sense of disengagement from the political process.
-perception of mp due to various scandals so less traditional political involvement.
Examples of party membership
Only 1.6 p of the electorate now belongs to a political party, compared to 3.8 p in 1983
Why can party membership show no pc?
Rise in new fringe groups
In recent elections votes have shifted from the big 2 to more smaller ones e.g greens or the snp.
These show that the public will still use parties as a vehicle for political action if they r proposing some kind of radical change or on issues they are more resonate with.
Does the rise of pressure groups and digital activism indicate or resolve a participation crisis?
Introduce alternative forms of political engagement that could either mitigate or indicate a pc.
They may enhance democracy by offering new channels for participation because people recognise that conventional politics has let them down n r turning to new methods of expression. Social media =youth to participate.
On the other hand,if these forms of engagement replace rather than complement traditional democratic participation,they may underscore a shift away from traditional democratic processes, suggesting a potential crisis in citizen engagement with formal political structures
Do pressure groups enhance democracy ?
They offer an outlet for those who feel disconnected from formal politics and can potentially reinvigorate democratic participation. However, do they really broaden participation across diverse segments of society or if they mainly attract specific demographics.
