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What is democracy?
Democracy means “rule by the
people.” What is a democratic country?
Democracy is based on two A democratic country is where
values: the major decisions that affect
society are made by the
I.)POLITICAL PARTICIPATION- people, whether directly or
where key decisions are made indirectly. Each person has an
by the people, reflecting the equal right to make their
notion of government by the opinion count. The more
people. In this context the popular consent or agreement
“participants” are the on a policy, law, representative
electorate. or government, the more
“legitimate” it is.
II.)POLITICAL EQUALITY- where
each citizen is free and has an
equal opportunity to influence
political decisions.
Types of democracy
There are two types of democracy
I.) DIRECT DEMOCRACY- where the people make the key political
decisions by themselves. This abolishes any distinction between the state
and the citizens as it is a form of self-government. The effectiveness of
this model of democracy is directly proportional to the extent of popular
participation.
Elections
Elections in Britain are free and fair as they are based on universal suffrage and they provide
electoral choice. Also votes are cast via the secret ballot bringing an end to bribery and
intimidation which ensures that voters can freely express their views at election time.
In 1948, Parliament passed another reform which established the idea of “one person, one
vote” creating political equality. Before this reform many privileged members of society were
able to vote plurally.
In 2000, the Electoral Commission had been established aiming to restore confidence and
integrity in British democracy.
I.) Certain key political posts remain unelected, like the Head of State, the House of Lords. Both
institutions lack democratic legitimacy.
II.) The first-past-the-post method has been criticised as many votes are wasted as the winner
needs to achieve a simple plurality of votes. Incredibly tight elections distort the real
preferences of the public.
Democracy in the UK
Universal Suffrage
However
I.) There are requirements for the electoral register, resulting in the
homeless, the Lords, prisoners and the mentally ill’s right to vote being
denied.
II.) Although a right to vote is guaranteed, this does not ensure that all
eligible members of society do vote. There have been growing levels of
voter apathy especially in the 1997, 2001 and 2005 elections. Furthermore,
non-voting is common amongst the poor and the most disadvantaged in
society.
Democracy in the UK
Electoral Choice
BUT
I.) The two-party system still remains in Westminster as Labour and the
Conservatives remain the dominant parties, despite the Liberal Democrats.
Pressure groups add to the democratic process as they give a voice to those who are
ignored by the majoritarian system. By joining pressure groups citizens exert influence
over the government through elections as they provide a vehicle for participation
beyond the act of voting. Thus pressure groups supplements democracy as it
promotes pluralist democracy leading to real developments in political equality.
BUT
I.) Some pressure groups concentrate power rather than distribute it. Financially
powerful groups are able to buy influence through donation to political parties. Many
argue that business groups have an unfair advantage as the government relies on
their cooperation for the economic proposals.
BUT
I.) Devolution has fallen short as many powers are in reality limited and
can be overturned by Westminster. Major economic decisions and foreign
policy lies with the cabinet and Whitehall.
II.) Devolution has raised the West Lothian Question. Devolution has failed
to advance English democracy. Tam Dayell has called for a separate
English assembly as most British people in England.
Democracy in the UK
The European Union
Britons are able to exercise their influence through the European Union. This is
done via the proportional, fixed term elections to the EU. The proportional
voting system has strengthened the democratic process as parties gain a fair
share of seats from their votes, for example the Green Party, UKIP and the BNP
have done well in the EU elections.
But
I.) Many eurosceptics have argued that the growth in EU power has come at
the expense of Westminster’s. The sovereignty of Parliament has been
undermined and threatened.
II.) In reality the EU has very little influence and control over the European
Commission with little policy-making powers, suffering from an internal
democratic deficit.
A democratic deficit?
Is the UK a truly democratic nation?
British democracy has come under attack by the conflicting ideas of popular
democracy and parliamentary democracy. For example the majority of Britons
opposed the Iraq invasion, yet Parliament declared war. The UK conforms to a
majoritarian democracy. The executive is accountable to Parliament; however
public interest is determined by the executive, not by the public themselves? If the
UK ensures majority rule, civil liberties are likely to be threatened or curtailed.
Due to increasing voter apathy, many claim that the UK is suffering from a
participation crisis.
In 1997 only 71% of the electorate actually voted, New Labour’s “landslide” victory
was won by more votes that the narrow result of the 1992 election! The membership of
the UK’s political parties has dramatically decreased over the years.
Party loyalty has declined. Many people do not identify themselves with a party or a
set of values. This leads to more marginal seats and more “floating voters.”
However the growth of pressure group membership and activism has increased,
negating the notion of a participation crisis. Maybe the problem lies with
disillusionment of Westminster politics. Nonetheless election turnout is vital to the
health of a representative democracy.
A democratic deficit?
There are three main factors that could explain declining turnouts at election time.
Blame the electorate- it could be argued that society in general has become more materialistic
in this current consumerist society. Thatcher asserted that “there is no such thing as society.” have
we become individuals concerned with our self-welfare. The declining turnout can be seen as an
epidemic with union membership and church attendance also are at an all time low.
Blame the media- the media have caused immense problems for the public to trust and put their
faith into politics. The media have moved away from political analysis to scandalous allegations
to sell papers. Examples include the expenses scandal, cash for honours and the Tory Sleaze
during the 1990s.
Blame the politicians- politicians have done nothing to improve and restore faith back into
politics.
Politicians seem to care about nothing other than getting elected, thus lacking a sense of
direction and moral values. “Bigotgate” proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Labour’s 2010
defeat. This claim is also supported by the transition from programmatic parties to catch all ones.
There has been a growth in spin-doctoring. Parties distort the truth to establish a favourable
response in order to gain support. Politics has become “style over substance.” Politicians seem to
create the impression of being lying snakes desperate to have a career.
Parties have distanced themselves from their grass root ideologies. The consensus politics have
explained electoral decline as parties seek to gain the support of middle England.
During election time, parties target marginal seats, thus ignoring the majority voters in safe
Enhancing democracy
For referendums Against referendums
Many reforms have been
advocated in order to improve As referendums constitute direct Referendums only provide public
democracy in the UK. democracy, any changes based opinion at a given time. They are
on the result of a referendum unreliable guide to the public
would be democratically interest in the long term.
I.) Widening Direct Participation- legitimate Although many supported the
this reform includes the wider use entry to the EU in the 1970s,
many wish to withdraw from it
of referendums. A referendum is a today.
popular vote by which the
electorate expresses their view on Referendums promote political Referendums undermine
a particular policy. They are used education. They act as an agent parliamentary sovereignty and
to inform the government to widening participation, parliamentary democracy;
sparking debate on particular decisions are not made through
regarding public opinion. They issues, leading to an informed deliberation and government by
differ from elections as they do not and educated electorate experts but by a public who are
fill a public office. Referendums are uneducated on policy matters in
a device of direct democracy. depth.
However referendums are only
used when decided by the
government. Citizens cannot Referendums are a check on the Referendums also lead to
initiate them. Government only call government’s power as irresponsible government
referendums that they are likely to Parliament has little control over neglecting their purpose.
the outcome. Governments are elected to
win. Examples include entry to the govern; they make policy
EU and the issue of devolution. proposals and implement them
and are called to account for
their decisions.
Enhancing democracy
Compulsory voting will lead to greater legitimacy. Compulsory voting may lead to further wasted votes.
Governments that are formed based on compulsory Those who do not vote usually are those who are the
voting would depend on a popular majority, thus least interested and uneducated in these matters.
strengthening legitimacy of governments. Popular Forcing those that fit this description to vote would
support must be widespread for the government’s inevitably lead to irrational votes being cast. People
right to rule. may choose to vote based on artificial reasons,
which may disaffect regular voters.
By default compulsory voting would lead to greater Compulsory voting may lead to parties changing
turnout rates. As electoral turnout is vital to their strategies by developing policies to fit marginal
representative democracy, in theory the voters rather than the mass of the electorate, thus
participation crisis would be resolved. Genuine distorting the ideological mood of the nation.
political equality requires that not only do we have a
right to vote, but all do vote.
Enhancing democracy
It does seems extremely unfair that mature 16 By lowering the voting age, it seems that we
year olds are denied the right to vote yet are forcing children to accept adult
uneducated, ignorant adults have this right responsibilities. It is not a question of their
and in fact choose not to. maturity, but during the difficult time of
adolescence, that state expects them to
make political judgements?
By lowering the voting age the youth maybe The belief that young people suffer from
strengthen their interests in politics making the political injustice is absurd. Their votes are only
matter more meaningful. This leads to stronger delayed; their representation is deferred. 18
political engagement as another section of year old are likely to be in touch with in
society participate in politics. interests of 16 and 17 year olds.
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