Participation crisis

Question 1

Four themes where participation crisis within the UK exist

Answer 1

Elections
Referendums
Party memberships
Pressure groups

Question 2

First theme : Elections

Give two factors which are negatively effected in low participation in elections

Answer 2

1) . Low participation undermines the election results
2) . As the UK is a representative democracy, low turnout doesn’t give the
govt. a strong mandate to carry out their policies

Question 3

First theme : Elections

Give a case study which proves the two points agreeing with participation crisis in elections

Answer 3

2015 General election

• 66% turnout - Lower than 70’s elections with 78.8% turnout
• Only 36% of turnout voted Tory
• Meaning overall only 24% of voters in UK voted tory

Question 4

First theme : Elections

Give two counterpoints for the claim of low participation in elections

Answer 4

1) . Low participation hasn’t yet led to an actual crisis
2) . Turnout has been steadily increasing recently

Question 5

First theme : Elections

Give a case study and point which disproves the two points agreeing with participation crisis in elections.

Answer 5

61% in 2005
65% in 2010
66% in 2015

Hapathy instead of Apathy - people don’t participate because they aren’t happy with the choices.

Question 6

Second theme: Referendums

What factor is negatively effected by low participation in referendums?

Answer 6

The legitimacy of the results are undermined.

Question 7

Second theme: Referendums

Give two case studies which are in favour of participation crisis in referendums

Answer 7

In 1998 London general assembly, only 34% voted

AV referendum - 42% voted

Question 8

Second theme : Referendums

Give a counterpoint for the claim of low participation in referendums.

Answer 8

Some referendums have attracted higher turnout as electorate think they are of more significance. Further referendums have also been requested.

Question 9

Second theme : Referendums

Give two case studies which disprove the point agreeing with participation crisis in Referendums.

Answer 9

The Northern Ireland good Friday agreement 1998 - 81% turnout, 71% victory

The Scottish Independence referendum in 2014 - 85% turnout, 97% of 16 - 17 year old said they would vote in a referendum again.

Question 10

Third theme: Party Membership

What factor is negatively effected by low participation in Party membership?

Answer 10

Membership of parties have historically been dropping as people become less involved in formal politics - this means that party leaders have a weaker mandate as less vote them in.

Question 11

Third theme: Party membership

Give two case studies which are in favour of participation crisis in party membership

Answer 11

In 2015 only 1% of electorate was a party member

In 2015 an audit surveyed that only 30% were a strong supporter of a party

Question 12

Third theme : Party membership

Give a counterpoint for the claim of low participation in Party membership

Answer 12

Membership of Labour and third parties are growing

Question 13

Third theme : Party membership

Give two case studies for the counterpoint of low participation in Party membership

Answer 13

Labour growing party membership:

190,000 in 2010 to 530,000 in 2017

The same audit from 2015 surveyed a year later that 41% now claimed to be a strong supporter - party membership is growing.

Question 14

Fourth theme: Pressure groups

What two arguments are for a political participation crisis in pressure groups?

Answer 14

Large membership can actually mean little political participation.

It is easy to overestimate how many people are engaged in non-electoral participation.

Question 15

Fourth theme: Pressure groups

Give two case studies which are in favour of participation crisis in pressure groups

Answer 15

RSPB - has 1 Million+ members, with little participation in politics.

AA provide a service, but how many of their members care about their aims?