DEMOCRACY AND PARTICIPATION Flashcards
(12 cards)
direct democracy
- the people make key decisions
- only used in ancient greece
- modern, uses initiatives and referendums
POSITIVE - - rule by the majority
- purest form of democracy, gives decision legitimacy
- entrenched decisions
representative democracy
- elect representatives to make decisions on behalf
- regular elections
- gov is accountable
- parties campaign
POSITIVES - representatives protect against rule of the majority
- MPs have expertise and knowledge
- can be sensitive to changing situations
pluralism
- power and influence dispersed among people and sections of society
- tolerance of a wide range of stuff
- political parties free to operate and campaign
- a choice of parties
- pressure groups allowed
- independent info, news and opinion
democracy in the uk - an assessment
- peaceful transition of power ✅
- free elections + full suffrage, little electoral fraud - HoL not elected at all
- fair elections ❌ except in scot wal and ni
- participation + lots of pressure groups with high membership - FPTP
- freedom of expression + free of gov interference - most owned in the hands of a few
- rights and liberties + strong as ECHR enforced by courts - parliament is sovereign so with a strong majority could override
- rule of law - ✅ upheld STRICTLY
the participation crisis
- low turnout especially among young. COMPLUSORY VOTING, ONLINE VOTING, MORE POLITICAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
- political apathy. MORE REFERENDUMS
- falling party membership. MAKE PARTIES MORE ELECTABLE, REDUCE COST
- disillusionment. ELECTORAL REFORM
- slacitivity due to social media campaigns. MORE EDUCATION PLUS DIRECT INTERACTION W POLITICIANS
- people concerned with single issues
- lack of distinction between parties
pressure groups types
promotional - serve everyone, want to mobilise public opinion and put pressure on gov, use direct action
sectional - self interested, want insider status, more ‘responsible’ methods
pressure group methods
- lobbying eg NFU, BBA, CBI
- public campaigning
- donations to political parties
- media campaigns, often feature celebrities
- civil disobedience eg greenpeace, animal liberation front
- social media and e petitions eg fracking
- legal action against discrimination
pressure groups yes or no
YES
- disperse power and influence
- educate the public
- give people opportunities to participate without giving up too much time or attention
- promotes interests of minorities
- help to call gov to account
NO
- some are elitist and concentrate power in hands of few
- influential groups may distort info in their interests
- may not accurately represent views
- finance is a key factor so unfair
pressure groups examples
INSIDER GROUPS - Age UK
OUTSIDER GROUPS - Greenpeace
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS - Occupy
SINGLE ISSUE - Against a Third Heathrow Runway
TRADE UNIONS - British Medical Association
COMPANIES - Starbucks
sources of rights
- common law. developed over centuries. confirmed by judicial precedent. eg rule of law, habeas corpus
- statutes. laws that being rights eg equality act 2010
- HRA, ECHR
are rights protected in uk?
YES
- strong common law
- subject to ECHR
- independent judiciary, acts against wishes of P
NO
- common law can be vague and can be set aside by statutes
- parliament is sovereign
- increasing pressure to curtail rights for national security
conflict between individual and collective rights
- freedom of expression BUT rights of religious groups to not have their beliefs satirised
- right to privacy BUT right to be protected from terrorism
- right to press freedom BUT right of public figures to have a private life
- right to demonstrate BUT freedom of movement
- right to strike BUT right of community to expect good service
