Democracy & Participation
Explain and analyse 3 ways formal participation is essential. (9)
P – strengthens community & social solidarity.
Ex – given stake, widening social and personal well-being to ensure gov reflects interests of citizens.
Ev – Power Inquiry, suggests 50% of pop. Does voluntary activity once a month, members 1.3% 2005.
An – paradox of participation, irrational due to probability of impact, lack of participation.
P – protects individual from government.
Ex – defends freedom through constrained power and subject to popular consent.
Ev – early 20th century, TO at 80%, unelected elements such as HoL, coupled with 59.4% TO in 2001.
An – tyranny of 51% minority rights/individual liberties crushed majority ‘in the name of the people.’
P – promotes education.
Ex – allows citizens insight into how their society operates.
Ev – rising membership single issue groups like Greenpeace, disproportionate bias in Media, Corbyn.
An – wisdom/knowledge is unequally disturbed in society, leads to rule by ignorant/poorly informed.
Explain and analyse 3 factors that explain decline in formal participation (9)
P – political parties.
Ex – party activism declines not main vehicle to participate & lack of trust in politicians.
Ev – 1940/50 membership 3 mil v 2016, 460 000, Johnson’s illegal proroguing of parliament 2019.
An – route for radical change > conventional politics. 2014, SNP membership surged to 100,000.
P – e-petitions and e-democracy.
Ex – little effort, apparent display of support, with social media, build interest in an issue rapidly.
Ev – 2007 against plan of road charges, gov drops plan. 2016 2nd EU ref only amounted to a debate.
An – criticised as it requires so little effort, no guarantee that participants know about issue.
P – pressure groups.
Ex – membership/activism in political parties have declined and replaced by PG.
Ev – promotional, Greenpeace sharp rising membership, sectional, Age UK campaigns on behalf of
elderly which is large proportion of population.
An – sectional nothing new, occurred with TUs, threaten democracy, PG elitist concentrate power.
Explain and analyse 3 ways formal participation is essential. (9)
P – strengthens community & social solidarity.
Ex – given stake, widening social and personal well-being to ensure gov reflects interests of citizens.
Ev – Power Inquiry, suggests 50% of pop. Does voluntary activity once a month, members 1.3% 2005.
An – paradox of participation, irrational due to probability of impact, lack of participation.
P – protects individual from government.
Ex – defends freedom through constrained power and subject to popular consent.
Ev – early 20th century, TO at 80%, unelected elements such as HoL, coupled with 59.4% TO in 2001.
An – tyranny of 51% minority rights/individual liberties crushed majority ‘in the name of the people.’
P – promotes education.
Ex – allows citizens insight into how their society operates.
Ev – rising membership single issue groups like Greenpeace, disproportionate bias in Media, Corbyn.
An – wisdom/knowledge is unequally disturbed in society, leads to rule by ignorant/poorly informed.
Explain and analyse 3 factors that explain decline in formal participation (9)
P – political parties.
Ex – party activism declines not main vehicle to participate & lack of trust in politicians.
Ev – 1940/50 membership 3 mil v 2016, 460 000, Johnson’s illegal proroguing of parliament 2019.
An – route for radical change > conventional politics. 2014, SNP membership surged to 100,000.
P – e-petitions and e-democracy.
Ex – little effort, apparent display of support, with social media, build interest in an issue rapidly.
Ev – 2007 against plan of road charges, gov drops plan. 2016 2nd EU ref only amounted to a debate.
An – criticised as it requires so little effort, no guarantee that participants know about issue.
P – pressure groups.
Ex – membership/activism in political parties have declined and replaced by PG.
Ev – promotional, Greenpeace sharp rising membership, sectional, Age UK campaigns on behalf of
elderly which is large proportion of population.
An – sectional nothing new, occurred with TUs, threaten democracy, PG elitist concentrate power.
