UK POLITICS - Democracy and participation Flashcards
Define democracy.
A political system in which all citizens have an equal right to participate in society’s decisions about policy.
What are Dahl’s 5 key measures of democracy?
- Equal and effective methods of participation
- All person’s votes must be equal
- Equal and effective opportunity to learn about possible choices and their effects
- Oppurtunity to set the agenda
- Universal suffrage
When did the UK start as a democracy? When did it finally become one?
- Magna Carta 1215 was the roots of Western Liberal democracy
- The Equal Franchise Act 1928 satisfied the last of Dahl’s 5 requirements of a democracy: universal suffrage
What is the source of direct democracy?
Ancient Greek, specifically Athenian, democracy relied on the participation of all citizens in open assemblies to make decisions.
What are the 3 key features of direct democracy?
- The people themselves make policy decisions, rather than choosing who does on their behalf
- There is no seperate class of professional politicians
- People engage in politics regularly and as an ongoing activity.
Outline the three institutions of the Ancient Greek democracy.
- The Ekklesia: the open assembly where anyone could speak and debate on policy, though only some could hold attention, like Demosthenes
- The Boule: a faux-civil service of 500 men decided by drawing lots (sortition)
- The Dikasteria: 501 jurors chosen every day to resolve court cases
Why did the Ancient Greeks use sortition?
Filling public office via random selection was seen as more democratic as it could not be swayed with money or popularity.
What is a modern example of a direct democracy?
Although Taiwan does have a government with representatives, it’s incredibly low-bar for referendums since 2003 have given citizens unparalelled possibility to participate: in November 2018 alone, there was 10 citizen-led proposals.
What is the core issue with direct democracy that required the creation of representatives?
Only a small percentage of the population can or want to devote a serious amount of time to political issues - this way that small precentage can be elected to do the heavy lifting.
What are the three key features of representative democracies?
- Popular participation is indirect
- Popular participation is mediated via representative institutions
- Popular participation is more limited
What are the three features of fair, democratic elections?
- Freedom, fairness, regularity
- Universal suffrage
- Party and candidate competition
How has oppurtunities to vote increased in the UK?
- Universal suffrage since 1928
- Elections to devolved governments since 1998
- Increasing use of referendums
What are the 5 types of representation?
- Social
- National Interest
- Constituency
- Party
- Causal
Outline social representation. Give an example
The idea that representative bodies should be an accurate cross-section of the characteristics of their representees so as to represent both their views and the experiences. Not done incredibly well in the UK, though improving (Starmer’s cabinet)
Outline representing the national interest. Give an example
As representatives sit in a national Parliament, they are expected to promote causes and policies that will benefit the wider UK, even if to the detriment of smaller groups. (Adrian Ramsey and NIMBY accusations)
Outline constituency representation. Give an example.
Representatives are represented by their local constituents so in a more direct manner, should represent them. This is also easier than other types as people in the same geographical area will likely have the same issues and concerns to be addressed. (Jeremy Corbyn is one of the few independant MPs)
What are the 3 aspects of constituency representation?
- Representation of the whole constituency such as getting more funds
- Representation of individual constituents, also known as redress of grievances
- Simply listening to the views of constituents when voting on national issues
Outline party representation. Give evidence
When most people are voting, they are voting for the policy and leadership of the party, rather than their local represenative so that representative is best representing them when they are towing the party line. (75% of people don’t know their local MP (BBC, 2015))
Outline causal representation. Give an example
When an MP supports and promotes a specific cause (like LGBTQ+ rights or environmentalism) or the uplifing of a certain group (reugees or veterans). In this way, they are representing everyone by making the country better on the whole. (MP Johnny Mercer’s fervent support of Veterans and 2020 resignation due to the government’s inadequate support)
How can direct democracies be more legitimate?
Direct democracy and popular participation means that all laws genuinly are ‘the will of the people’ so can more easily be justified in a democratic system. Representative democracies and the distance between people and politics can lead to apathy. (Labour only actually gained 20% of the electorate’s vote)
How does direct democracy lead to greater personal development?
Direct and popular participation forces people to actively engage in politics, becoming more active citizens and working to better society under their perspective. Representative democracy has little to no participation so people often become apathetic and don’t care to learn.
(More than 50% of people talk about politics a few times a month or less)
Why would an end to professional politics be good?
Politicians often only seek to increase their own station, status, and wealth - not caring about the effect of their decisions on those they represent - a direct democracy would strike this possibility and increase the trust the public has in legislative decisions.
(In 2019, 63% of people felt the political game was rigged in the favour of the rich and powerful)
What is the efficacy issue with direct democracy?
It is not achievable on a large-scale: the 100,000 Athenians allowed to vote could more easily gather in one place and discuss than the 68 million UK citizens, instead we have a smaller number of representatives.
What is the labour issue with direct democracy?
It requires citizens to devote a large amount of time to political education, often getting in the way of other responsibilities; the Athenian solution was slavery and having women taking care of family life (neither of which would take part in democracy (3/5 of the population)), not a great solution. The modern solution is to give the burden to a class of people who wholly devote themselves to it.
What is the expertise issue with direct democracy?
People are very easily swayed to solutions to problems that appear more clear cut, often against their own interests - politicians have special education to know not to be swayed and to use their expertise to find the best possible solution.
(Brexit, fishers, and the CFP)
Outline the forms of political participation in order of intensity
- Standing for public office: many are full time politicians and dedicate their work lives to politics
- Active party membership: campaigning, canvassing and generally being engaged with the workings of your party
- Active pressure group membership: can mean attending or even organising demonstrations or direct action
- Passive party or group membership: joining the group but not doing much more than voting
- Digital activism: online movements that only require expression of support or signing e-petitions, etc.
- Voting
What is the issue with a lack of political participation?
If the population does not assert its will upon the democratic system, it becomes open to abuse and the preferential treatment to those who engage over those who do not.
How has political party membership changed over time?
In the 40’s and 50’s, political party membership was at its peak very possibly due to new found faith in democracy and growing optimism in the UK post-WWII (Conservatives leading with 3 million, excluding all the trade union members); since, there has been a steady decline due to growing apathy (conservatives possibly under 100,000)
What are the three exceptions to the decline in party membership and what does it mean?
- Labour membership surged when Milliband decreased the fee to £3
- Following the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum, SNP membership allegedly shot up to 100,000 in a population fo 5 million
- There was a 50,000 member surge in UKIP in the run-up to the 2015 general election
People still see political parties as vehicles for change, but only if promising something radical
What is the counterpoint to decreased party membership as proof of declining participation?
- Previously, political parties often represented a subsection of society that made it an obvious choice to be in that party if you were part of that group. It was natural to be a conservative member if you were an aristocrat because it was overtly in your interests
- Socially it was also preferable to be apart as you were seen as alien otherwise
- Labour’s drop since the 50’s can be attributed to its membership no longer being prerequired as joining a trade union
What is the lowest turnout in history?
2001 - 59.4%
Give an argument and counterargument for the decreasing turnout as part of the participation crisis.
Steady increase since 2001 signifies renewed belief in politics - 2019 reaching 63% (on the rise)
Increased opportunities to vote (referendums and devolved bodies)
- 2024 - 59.8%, the second lowest in recent history, likely due to dislike of both parties
- 63% is still much lower than 84% in 1950
- Referendums and devolved bodies have even lower turnout, possibly due to voter fatigue and an excess of oppurtunities.
Give an argument and counterargument to individual politics in the participation crisis.
There has been growth in more individualistic forms of participation - e-petitions leading to things like the Hillsborough inquiry
- Increase in ‘political consumerism’ - such as with the boycott on McDonalds leading to a share fall of 4%.
- ‘Slacktivism’, requires very little effort and shows less participation so still signalling a loss. However it does work, we may be in an age where participation is just easier.
Give an argument and counterargument to pressure groups in the participation crisis.
PGs closely represent specific goal unlike catch-all parties - Stonewall successfully lobbied the government to repeal Section 28, continue to be an invaluable resource for the defence of queer rights
Becoming more widespread - the Passion Collaboration: 1 in 10 adults in the UK are members of a pressure group.
- Some have lost power, trade unions were once one of the guiding hands in politics (13.2 million members in 1979) but Blair was accused by the TUC head of treating them like “elderly relatives”. However, Starmer said he wanted a “partnership” with them.
Give an argument and counterargument to direct action in the participation crisis.
Becoming incredibly common, with groups like BLM, Extinction Rebellion, and Just Stop Oil rising to prominence in 2020 - 15-26 mill people participated in BLM protests in America
- Efficacy: Just Stop Oil likely harmed the movement with the Stone Henge spray paint
- Democracy: is direct action democratic given its entire aim is to circumvent lobbying and the democratic system?
Give an argument and counterargument to 16 year olds being mature enough to vote.
Young people are old enough to be involved in politics - 20,000 young people in youth councils and over 600 elected members of youth Parliaments
Not being allowed to vote is an irrational limit, they join the military - in 2019, under-18s were the largest age group to join the military - 28%
- Adolesence is a period of development and it should not be harmed by forcing responsibilities like voting onto them - Murray (1961). However, children are already exposed and burdened by politics as people within the system and were harmed by things like austerity cutting sure start.
