Is Uk democracy in ‘crisis’?
Introduction Electoral commissions 2023- There is an increasing trend in the proportion of people who perceive problems
Definition related to UK democracy. Out of a list of 9 problems on average people selected 3.6 problems in 2021 which
Relevance increased to 4.3 problems in 2023. The top three concerns are bias in the media (72%), lower voter turnout
Thesis (66%)and inadequate regulation of political party spending (60%)
PARAGRAPH 1 Turn Out
(weaker argument) The next election is set to be the most unequal in 60 years thanks to a rising gap in voter turnout based on age,
Point income, class, home ownership and ethnicity, a new study has found.
Evidence February 2024 - The deepening turnout divide among the millennial generation will contribute to a wider long-
Analysis term trend of declining political participation among younger cohorts in the UK
IR Theory Turnout in elections is not high enough.
The 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019 general elections all had turnout between 65-69%, meaning around 1/3 of UK voters
are not participating. In the 2019 United Kingdom General Election, voter turnout was 67.3 percent of eligible
voters, a 1.5 percent drop compared with the previous general election in 2017.
This is significant as if governments are elected on a reduced share of the popular vote this undermines their
legitimacy and therefore right to govern. This could lead to social unrest.
PARAGRAPH 1 Alternative participation has become more popular as we see an increase in partisan dealignment where
(stronger argument) people increasingly feel no affiliation to any party.
Point For example, Internet-based movements can be powerful: more than 210,000 people joined UK black lives
Evidence matter protest of Summer 2020, with millions participating online. This triggered national debate about structural
Analysis racism and how black history is taught in schools. Many schools subsequently rewrote their curriculum.
IR Theory This is significant as it shows a commitment to influencing policy decisions and strong political awareness
PARAGRAPH 2 Constitutional change
(weaker argument) The introduction of new political institutions since 1997, designed in part to restore people’s trust and
Point confidence, appears to have little impact
Evidence Lords effectiveness is restricted as the commons have supreme legislative power.
Analysis In 2020 Boris Johnson’s defeats by the Lords were reversed in the Commons where held an 80-seat majority.
IR Theory This is significant as it demonstrates how the Lords power is limited and undermines the effectiveness of the
‘checks and balances’ as the executive power is not separated by the legislature.
Although there is a strong legislative process with multiple stages where a bill can be stopped, the elected
government is still given more influence.
For example, the government controls bills and controls majority of bill committees, possibly leading to a
consolidation of power which undermines democratic principles.
PARAGRAPH 2 The establishment of the Supreme Court in 2009 has strengthened the distance between the three branches of
(stronger argument) government: judiciary, executive and legislature
Point This is important for democracy as it enables ‘checks and balances’
Evidence There is an increased willingness of the House of Lords to amend or delay legislation.
Analysis The Lords has become more defiant since reform in 1999, improving the quality of laws passed. Since the 1999
IR Theory reforms removed most of the hereditary peers, and ensured a fairer balance between the parties, the chamber
Introduction Electoral commissions 2023- There is an increasing trend in the proportion of people who perceive problems
Definition related to UK democracy. Out of a list of 9 problems on average people selected 3.6 problems in 2021 which
Relevance increased to 4.3 problems in 2023. The top three concerns are bias in the media (72%), lower voter turnout
Thesis (66%)and inadequate regulation of political party spending (60%)
PARAGRAPH 1 Turn Out
(weaker argument) The next election is set to be the most unequal in 60 years thanks to a rising gap in voter turnout based on age,
Point income, class, home ownership and ethnicity, a new study has found.
Evidence February 2024 - The deepening turnout divide among the millennial generation will contribute to a wider long-
Analysis term trend of declining political participation among younger cohorts in the UK
IR Theory Turnout in elections is not high enough.
The 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019 general elections all had turnout between 65-69%, meaning around 1/3 of UK voters
are not participating. In the 2019 United Kingdom General Election, voter turnout was 67.3 percent of eligible
voters, a 1.5 percent drop compared with the previous general election in 2017.
This is significant as if governments are elected on a reduced share of the popular vote this undermines their
legitimacy and therefore right to govern. This could lead to social unrest.
PARAGRAPH 1 Alternative participation has become more popular as we see an increase in partisan dealignment where
(stronger argument) people increasingly feel no affiliation to any party.
Point For example, Internet-based movements can be powerful: more than 210,000 people joined UK black lives
Evidence matter protest of Summer 2020, with millions participating online. This triggered national debate about structural
Analysis racism and how black history is taught in schools. Many schools subsequently rewrote their curriculum.
IR Theory This is significant as it shows a commitment to influencing policy decisions and strong political awareness
PARAGRAPH 2 Constitutional change
(weaker argument) The introduction of new political institutions since 1997, designed in part to restore people’s trust and
Point confidence, appears to have little impact
Evidence Lords effectiveness is restricted as the commons have supreme legislative power.
Analysis In 2020 Boris Johnson’s defeats by the Lords were reversed in the Commons where held an 80-seat majority.
IR Theory This is significant as it demonstrates how the Lords power is limited and undermines the effectiveness of the
‘checks and balances’ as the executive power is not separated by the legislature.
Although there is a strong legislative process with multiple stages where a bill can be stopped, the elected
government is still given more influence.
For example, the government controls bills and controls majority of bill committees, possibly leading to a
consolidation of power which undermines democratic principles.
PARAGRAPH 2 The establishment of the Supreme Court in 2009 has strengthened the distance between the three branches of
(stronger argument) government: judiciary, executive and legislature
Point This is important for democracy as it enables ‘checks and balances’
Evidence There is an increased willingness of the House of Lords to amend or delay legislation.
Analysis The Lords has become more defiant since reform in 1999, improving the quality of laws passed. Since the 1999
IR Theory reforms removed most of the hereditary peers, and ensured a fairer balance between the parties, the chamber
