Key Concepts
democracy
legitimacy
representation
direct democracy
representative democracy
liberal democracy
parliamentary democracy
political participation
referendum
Nature of democracy — a knowledge and understanding of the idea of democracy, of the forms that democratic governance has taken, particularly the difference between direct and representative forms of democracy and their strengths and weaknesses, and the nature of liberal democracy.
Democracy in the UK — a knowledge and understanding of the main features of democracy in the UK; an awareness of both the strengths of the UK democratic system and why it has been criticised, including reasons for and the extent of the ‘participation / legitimacy crisis’ in UK politics; how far the UK system conforms to liberal democratic principles; and the implications of developments such as devolution and EU membership.
Enhancing democracy — a knowledge and understanding of reforms of the UK democratic system that would extend participation and strengthen accountability, such as the wider use of referendums, lowering the voting age, compulsory voting and digital democracy and an assessment of their implications and possible benefits.
Exposition
Introduction to Government and Politics:
- What is politics? e.g., politics and government; politics as debate; politics as power; discussion and conflict resolution
- Why politics matters — e.g. active citizenship, value of political education, making democracy work
- Power and politics — definitions of power, types of power (decision making, non-decision making, thought control)
- Power and authority — definitions of power, types of power (decision-making, non-decision making, thought control) definitions of authority; types of authority (traditional, charismatic, legal-rational)
- UK politics and government — an overview of the UK political system; introduction to its key features
- Definition of democracy — key principles: political equality, political participation, public control; differences between direct and representative democracy.
- Nature of direct democracy — principles and features, e.g., direct popular participation; Athenian democracy; referendums.
- Nature of representative democracy — principles and features (link between representation and democracy, liberal democracy, etc.)
- Advantages of direct democracy — e.g. freedom, participation, personal development.
- Advantages of representative democracy — e.g. practicable, expertise, stability.
- Nature and features of UK democratic system — e.g. democratic franchise, electoral democracy, party competition, parliamentary democracy (advantages and disadvantages), devolved assemblies.
- Democratic deficit in the UK — e.g. non-elected posts, electoral system, ‘participation crisis’, ineffectiveness of Parliament, European Parliament.
- Enhancing democracy — referendums (when/why used, advantages and disadvantages); other reforms (e.g. compulsory voting, fixed–term elections, e-democracy)
Introduction
The first section of Unit 1 is entitled Democracy and Political Participation and sets the scene for much of that which will be studied in both AS Units 1 and 2.
Our exploration will begin with looking at the two concepts that give this subject its name: Government and Politics? What are they? How do they differ?
We shall then look in depth at democracy and its realisation - in the UK, in particular...
In a very real sense, the United Kingdom has only been what might reasonably be considered a fully democratic country since 1928, when all women were given the right to vote on the same basis as men. The journey to this democratic ideal was a long and often fraught... This state of affairs, needless to say, is often taken for granted, together with accompanying ideals such as free speech and civic freedoms.
The UK, of course, now subscribes fully to the notion of itself as a ‘democracy’, in keeping with all other Western states, which are usually characterised as striving to fulfil the principles of ‘liberal democracy’. But what, exactly, do these terms mean?
Context question: What is meant by a ‘Western state’? Research this term and present your findings briefly in bullet point form.
Debate continues as to how best to maintain and perpetuate parliamentary democracy in the UK, both in a general sense, and in more technical ways (such as the voting system(s) that should be used).
Some observers contend that the UK could be more democratic, allowing greater freedoms and more meaningful participation in between elections (perhaps by using referendums). Some argue further that the UK political system lacks legitimacy to a greater or lesser extent, others that the UK is not truly democratic as it relies on an indirect form of representative democracy rather than direct democracy.
This section seeks to aid a wide-ranging discussion of these issues, reflecting a variety of viewpoints, and not - it has to be said - with any definitive answers...!
Video (YouTube, 5 parts) - Tony Benn on Democracy in Big Ideas That Changed the World:
Referendums
A referendum (sometimes known by the alternative term 'plebiscite') is a vote in which registered voters are able to express a view, or views, on a specific matter of policy and / or make a specific decision. Although involving the same electorate and requiring the casting of votes, a referendum is different to an election in that an election provides a means of filling a public office. An election does not provide a reliably direct manner of determining specific policy, whereas a referendum does fulfill that singular task. A referendum is therefore an instrument of direct democracy.
Referendums have arisen as an important feature of the UK political scene since 1997. Before then, referendums were infrequent and discouraged by established political operators as not fitting within the traditional British principles of representative parliamentary democracy. The argument was that referendums—if employed—would undermine the electoral authority of Parliament.
In recent decades, however, a growing public and political perception of a need for fundamental constitutional reform was accompanied by growing demands that significant alterations to UK government should be directly endorsed by the people rather than left to Parliament to decide. As such, the more frequent recourse to referendums—and their broad success in changing UK governmental systems—has likely created a new convention within the constitution that fundamental changes should always be put directly to the people. This would seem to be mirrored in public expectation.
