Representation Flashcards
Describe Trustee Model
A trustee is someone in whom you invest your trust to act on your behalf as that person is equipped with superior knowledge and is well- educated. Edmund Burke advocated that those fortunate had a duty to serve the less-fortunate. It is criticised as an elitist model as once elected the trustee would be in a position to exercise their own judgement in the belief that the masses would not know their own best interests as they lacked education and knowledge. Considered antidemocratic as the represented ultimately would be able to pursue their own selfish interests.
What is the Delegate Model ?
The delegate (guidance) model stands in opposition to the trustee model - the elected should never form for themselves an interest separate from the electors. A person who is chosen to act not for themselves but directly for others (trade union representative is a good example). Closest to direct democracy - advocate of referendums.
What are the Four models of representation
Two classical models : Trustee and Delegate
Two modern : Mandate and Resemblance
By what margin did the Conservative government secure victory in the latest, May 2015 general election ?
Conservative secured only 36.8 per cent of the vote according to latest figures supplied by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), from a turnout of the UK population of 66.2 per cent which gained a majority of a mere 12 seats. There were more total votes against the Conservative vote.
What is representative democracy ?
Representative democracy is the next best form of democracy next to direct democracy, which was extolled in 5th Century Ancient Greece to include the participation of the majority of citizens (but excluding women and slaves for example). Participation is the central tenet to democracy, and elected representatives have a responsibility to represent those people who have elected them.
What are elections and why are they important ?
Free and fair, competitive elections are the core of British democracy and a mechanism to ensure a pluralist dispersal of power throughout society as opposed to an elite model where power is concentrated in a narrow strata of elites.
How is a western neo-liberal democracy attained ?
In Britain we have a majoritarian voting system in the firm of first past the post (Fptp). As opposed to a proportional voting system which is utilised in most European countries.
What are the strengths of Fptp ?
(1) Simple and cost effective, the voter is only required to mark the ballot paper with one X against his preferred candidate.
(2) Easier and quicker to count votes (as only one X) and results invariably available the following day which expediates the incorporation of a new, or continuation of the existing political party.
(3) Is suggestive of a strong and stable single government as predominantly considered a ‘two party’ system which favours the bigger parties but allows no realistic opportunity for smaller marginalised parties to win.
What are the core concepts associated with a representative democracy ?
Elections as part of the representative mechanism in Britain which allows for legitimacy and subsequent authority of government, which also bestows a means of integration and involvement of the body politic, which is essential as politics is a interaction between society.
What criticisms are levelled at Fptp ?
(1) Fptp is an archaic system of voting
(2) It favours the stronger two parties
(3) Wastes votes
Compulsory voting where ?
Compulsory voting exists in over twenty countries worldwide, including Australia (a fellow neo-liberal hegemon) who adopted compulsory voting in 1924’ and Belgium, a neighbouring Western European country being the first to adopt mandatory voting in 1892 (for men) and considerably later for women in 1949.
What sanctions exist for non-turnout in Belgium ?
A fine and the possibility of losing your right to vote for ten years. In Australia also a fine but the added potential of imprisonment (for non payment of fine). (Frankal, 2005).
What ways are there to increase participation ? (5) ways
There have been suggestions of allowing (1) on-line voting which is considered would especially increase the participation of younger society. The overall opening up of voting to the young, and (2) reducing the age to sixteen. In UK law an individual aged sixteen is legally allowed to marry, have children and join the army; why not add the privilege to vote (a good case in example is the recent Scottish in/out referendum where it is said that involvement of the younger voter has increased both awareness and involvement which is one of the primary aims of politics). (3) Compulsory voting would increase participation. (4) Voting day a national holiday. (5) The increased use of referendums.
How many conservative votes ?
11.3 Million votes. Population percentage of population Less than a one per cent rise on 2010 election (.7 per cent) A gain of 24 seats (on 2010)
Conclusion
“If voting changed anything they’d abolish it” Anarchist slogan
Are we not in danger of reverting back to an elitist, trustee model of representation ? (If we haven’t already) as expounded by Michel’s (1911) Iron law of Oligarchy. And to what extent does the evidence of a shift in poltical and societal consensus of the rise of left wing and the austerity political party groups in Europe for example Podemos in Spain and Syrizia in Greece suggest that a shift from right to left wing ideological parties, and a potential return to socialism, be facilitated by an AVP and proportional voting system. Ultimately the reengagement of the masses in these European countries have been made possible ?
