What is the nature of democracy?

Question 1

What is the nature of democracy?

Answer 1

1. Representation.
   E.g. there is direct and indirect representation, indirect can include general elections, such as in 2019 when the Conservative party won an 80 seat majority
   (democracy is therefore enhanced as it allows people’s views to be represented and ensures that the government are ultimately accountable to the electorate)
2. Participation.
   E.g. joining pressure groups such as the BMA, who, in 2018 convinced the government to introduce a sugar tax on fizzy drinks
   (democracy is therefore enhanced as this allows people to give additional support to parties which they strongly support)
   Royal society for the protection of birds has 1.1 million members
3. Civil rights.
   E.g. in R v Secretary of State for the Home Department the right to rent scheme was ruled incompatible with the HRA from the 14 article of the ECHR
   (thus protecting the rights of immigrants to access accommodation)

Question 2

How can people participate in democracy?

Answer 2

1. Voting in general elections
   E.g. in the 2019 general election the conservative party won an 80 seat majority due to people voting for them
   (thus allowing people to be represented and have there voices heard which therefore enhances democracy)
2. Joining a pressure groups
   E.g. in 2018 the BMA convinced the government to introduce a sugar tax on fizzy drinks
   (therefore individuals can potentially influence the government into implementing certain measures through pressure groups)
3. Joining a political party
   E.g. the Conservative party charge £25 for membership
   (allows individuals to vote for a party leader and to pledge additional financial support to parties which they strongly support)

Question 3

Is direct democracy a good idea? (plan only)

Answer 3

1. Yes, it can lead to political engagement
   E.g. 2014 Scottish independence referendum had a 84.59% turnout

No, direct democracy can lead to voter apathy
E.g. in 2011 the AV referendum had a turnout of only 42.2%

2. Yes, representative democracy is not always representative
   E.g. the majority of parliament wanted to stay in the EU, whereas the majority of the public wanted to leave the EU. 479 MPs out of 650 supported remaining in the EU.

No, more informed decisions from elected representatives
E.g. professional politicians are dedicated to making laws. Laura Smith MP used to be a teacher, and represented the Crewe and Nantwich constituency between 2017 and 2019.

Question 4

Give three examples of the concept of pluralist democracy

Answer 4

1. Coalition governments
   E.g. the coalition government in 2010 between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat party
   (ensuring that parties work with eachother to pass legislation thus allowing a more wide variety of views to be representing in the legislative process)
2. Northern Ireland
   E.g. the power sharing agreement between unionists and nationalists. They split the cabinet posts and they also split executive roles
   (therefore preventing tensions between the two sides as both parties have a say in how the country is run)
3. Factions within the two main parties
   E.g. Labour have a centrist faction (new labour) / socialist faction (old labour), Conservatives have one nation conservatives and Thatcherite conservatives
   (allowing multiple views within the party to be represented thus making them more internally democratic)