2.11 6 markers Flashcards
Explain what is meant by citizenship
Citizenship is a relationship between the individual and the state, in which the two are bound together by reciprocal rights and duties. Most simply, citizens are members of the state.
Citizenship is linked to the ideas of freedom and democracy. There is a big emphasis on rights, while the link to democracy emphasis the importance of participation, often seen as a duty rather than a right.
There are three rights implied by citizenship:
1. Civil rights (right to live & work within a state)
2. Political rights (right to vote and stand for public office)
3. Social rights (right of access to social security and public services)
4 dimensions to citizenship:
1. Political dimension- political rights + responsibilities
2. Social dimension
3. Cultural dimension
4. Economic dimension
Example:
Shamima Begum, Tauqir Sharif
The website Free Movement says: more than 460 people had their citizenship removed between 2006 and 2020
Explain what is meant by global citizenship
Global citizenship is the umbrella term for social, political, environmental and economic actions of globally minded individuals and communities on a worldwide scale
Refers to that belief that individuals are members of multiple, diverse, local & non-local networks rather than single actors affecting isolated societies.
The idea is that one’s identity goes beyond their community and people are members of the world rather than a single nation
A global citizen is someone who:
- is aware of the wider world
- respects and values diversity
- has an understanding of how the world works
- is outraged by social injustice
- is willing to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place
Global citizenship helps people through:
- Political change through international relations
- Economic development through trade and economic growth
- Social + Cultural development through migration
- Technological advancements
Explain what is meant by freedom
Freedom is an expression of individual liberty closely associated with the notion of a democratic society
(Usually in Liberalism) it’s divided into 2 categories:
1. Negative Freedom
2. Positive Freedom
Negative Freedom
Negative freedom consists of freedom from something. -ve freedom therefore consists of laws to combat discrimination
It’s upheld through checks on the government, e.g. codified constitutions / bill of rights
Examples: Civil liberties: freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of religious worship, freedom of movement
Positive Freedom
Positive freedom consists of the ability to do something
Isaiah Berlin argues +ve freedom allows individuals to take control of their life. Therefore, it means the freedom to perform an action.
Example: Equality of opportunity, allows all individuals to reach their full potential- LEVEL PLAYING GROUND- state intervention and welfare state
Explain what is meant by equality
Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives
Also belief no one should have a worse life because of the way they were born, what they believe, if they have a disability etc.
Equality recognises that historically, people of certain sex, race, religion, nationality etc. have faced discrimination
Equality of Opportunity:
- refers to idea that all people should have equal chances in life to rise and fall
- Liberals have attempted to break down the barriers that hold people back (e.g. sexism, racism)
- Example: Bill C-16= bill passed by Canada’s parliament in 2017 that aims to protect transgender and non-binary citizens from discrimination
Foundational Equality:
- rights all humans have when they were born, because they’re humans
- can’t be taken away
The Equality Act 2010 prohibits all employers, service providers and providers of education, from discriminating against, harassing or victimising individuals with protected characteristics
Explain what is meant by participation
Participation refers to the extent to which people engage with political activities like voting or party membership.
Forms:
1. Standing for public office
2. Active party membership (‘activists’- attend meetings, campaign and canvass for votes for their party)
3. Pressure Group membership (e.g. BMA, National Farmer’s Union)
4. Passive party membership
5. Voting
6. Digital activists (e.g. e-democracy- online petitions, social media campaigns etc.)
Participation has been on the downward trend, with voting levels nowhere near pre-1992 levels. However, hope with e-democracy & arguably referendums= 100,000 first-time voters in Scottish Independence Referendum 2014
Explain what is meant by active citizenship
Active citizenship used to describe the involvement of individuals in public life and affairs. Such involvement can take place at local, national and international levels.
Different levels (can be an active citizen in different ways)
1. Local level- actively involved in the life of their communities. This can be through tackling problems, bringing about change or resisting unwanted change. e.g. campaign to save Llanishen Reservoir from 2001-2013 against Western Power.
2. Regional & National Level- variety of activities including:
– voting
– being involved in campaigning groups
– becoming a member of a political party.
3. International level- involvement in movements to promote environmental sustainability or fair trade, to reduce poverty or eliminate people trafficking and slavery.
E.g Ashton Kutcher is a co-founder of Thorn: a company that creates software trying to stop people trafficking.
What does an active citizen do?
1. Civil participation
2. Civic engagement= more formal routes of public participation in the process of governance.
This can be through user panels, citizens’’ juries, citizen governors, advisory boards.
However, this can sometimes appear a narrow spectrum of the work that people volunteer for the benefit of others.
Can be motivated by different things: justice, fairness, personal responsibility etc.
Explain the European Convention on Human Rights
The ECHR protects the human rights of people in countries that belong to the Council of Europe.
All 47 Member States of the Council, including the UK, have signed the Convention. Its full title is the ‘Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms’.
Formed in 1949, the Council of Europe is completely separate from the European Union and much larger, with 47 members compared to the EU’s 28. The UK became a Council member 24 years before it joined the EU. The UK’s membership of the Council is unaffected by leaving the EU
The Convention consists of numbered ‘articles’ protecting basic human rights. The UK made these rights part of its domestic law through the Human Rights Act 1998
It was originally proposed by Winston Churchill after WW2 and was drafted up by British lawyers
Signed in 1950
e.g. the right to life (Article 2)
freedom from torture (Article 3)
freedom from slavery (Article 4)
Explain the Human Rights Act
HRA 1998- introduced by Tony Blair- based on ECHR
Enshrines rights laid out in ECHR into domestic law
Allows you to defend your rights in UK courts and compels public organisations – including the Government, police and local councils – to treat everyone equally, with fairness, dignity and respect.
Judges use it to make declarations of incompatibility + judicial review (expand)
Can be used by every person in the UK, regardless of whether they are a British citizen or not
e.g. right to an education, right to life, right to liberty, right not to be tortured etc.
Limitations:
Belmarsh Case- Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 allowed detention of terrorist suspects indefinitely
Explain
