expressed AO1 Flashcards
(35 cards)
participation crisis: low turnout
2024 general election was 59.7%, which was the lowest at a general election since 2001.
participation crisis: falling party membership
- Early 1950s political parties largest membership organisation w/ conservative 2.8 mn ppl and labour 1 mn
- 2019 RSPB greater membership than all 3 estab parties
Participation crisis: disillusionment
-2024 General Election, 57.8 %of voters were unrepresented, and 15.9 % of votes were surplus. a total of 73.7 %of votes disregarded in 2024
Participation: shallow engagement
- At 40.1%, non-voters represented a higher percentage of the electorate than any of the parties’ vote shares.
is there a participation crisis?
yes in electoral participation but non-electoral forms of participation
evidence for non-electoral participation
40-50% of the UK population is a member of at least one pressure group. There have been some concerns raised however that many people join a group without actually actively participating much- this is known as the ‘chequebook group’ idea.
Factors influencing the success of pressure groups: wealth
- richer: major campaigns i.e BMA launch public support to rally support for Gp -> ‘support your surgery’
- Hire lobbyists
- invest in political parties: unison one of top 20 donors for 24GE -> Labour come to power then approve pay rses -> accused of being influenced by their donor
Factors influencing the success of pressure groups: membership
- high:
-Lower:
Factors influencing the success of pressure groups: insider status
- success w/
- failure w/
- success w/out
- failure w/out
Factors influencing the success of pressure groups: Tactics
- success w/ extremist techniques - Just Stop OIl
- failure w/ extremist techniques RMT 2022 christmas strikes
- success w/ moderate tactics
- failure w/ moderate tactics
Factors influencing the success of pressure groups: public support
success w/:
-success w/out:
- Failure w/
-Failure w/out
Factors influencing the success of pressure groups: celebrity endorsement
- success w/
- failure w/
liZ truss w/ IEA think tank
- dubious lobbying activity/scandals
- ‘revolving door’
efers to the movement of high-level employees from public-sector jobs to private-sector jobs and vice versa.
- ‘tyranny of the minority’ pressure groups
Pressure groups promote the interests or cause of a particular minority group. But not all minorities have the same resources. Just as much as pressure groups can give a voice to poorer, less powerful sections of society who would otherwise lack any real influence, they can also amplify the influence of the wealthy and powerful
Critics argue that this can lead to a ‘tyranny of the minority’, in which a small elite has an unfair level of influence over the government. Wealthy groups can use their financial strengths to hire those who can provide them with access
- defend rights of minorities’ pressurwe groups
- keep accountability pressure groups
18-24 lowest turnout
16-17 lack of experience
16-17 access info
16 Scottish Parliament precedent
Elections and referendums
Democracy + Ref: Lab manifesto -> March 25
- supported votes @ 16 but yet to be implemented into leg.
- strong opposition
- con + ref. -> feel labour disproportionately benefit
- farage ‘accuse rigging future elections’ + politically motivated rather than democratic
