ELECTIONS How Do Elections Promote Democracy a Allow

ELECTIONS

How Do Elections Promote Democracy? (a) Allow ordinary citizens to become involved and enjoy democratic participation Ø Creates choice for people as to who holds office Ø Elections provide democratic legitimacy, encouraging the seeking of the peoples’ vote Ø They encourage accountability of MPs and office holders to the people, thus again furthering democracy Ø

Distinguish Between Majoritarian Representation and Proportional Representation (b) Majoritarian: Ø Parties gain a majority of the seats without necessarily gaining a majority of votes, meaning govts often formed without 50% of vote Ø Majoritarian systems engineer a ‘winner’s bonus’ – one party often over-rewarded in terms of seats for the number of votes received Ø FPTP is an example of a majoritarian system (FPTP also known as a ‘plurality’ system – winner simply gets the most votes, not a majority) Ø Associated with strong single party government

Distinguish Between Majoritarian Representation and Proportional Representation (b) Proportional: Ø Close correlation between number of votes cast and number of seats awarded Ø Offers fair share of seats to parties Ø It is argued that it confers greater legitimacy on governments Ø Tends to produce coalitions over majority, one party rule Ø List system, AMS and STV are proportional systems

How far does the Westminster electoral system ensure strong and stable government? ( c ) Ø Usually produces single party government able to rule decisively – before May 2010, the last ‘hung’ parliament produced was in 1974 Ø The May 2010 outcome produced coalition government that in its first year proved strong and stable (although local election and referendum results have started to challenge its unity)

How far does the Westminster electoral system ensure strong and stable government? ( c ) Ø Single-party government allowed for the successful enactment of manifesto promises without having to compromise – governments had a clear mandate Ø Provides clear accountability Ø Governments generally run full terms Ø Governments can carry out major reforms (eg Thatcher on the economy, Blair on constitutional reform)

How far does the Westminster electoral system ensure strong and stable government? ( c ) HOWEVER Ø The Westminster system is being undermined by increasingly low turnouts (slightly up in 2010, but only to 65%) Ø The 2010 election produced a coalition; although strong in its first year, the impact of local elections, the failure of the AV referendum and disputes over health reforms may be fracturing it.

How far does the Westminster electoral system ensure strong and stable government? ( c ) It is a myth that large majorities produce strong and stable governments – Blair had Bills overturned in parliament by his own MPs (eg demand for longer detention of terrorist suspects) and Brown faced continual threat of rebellion, leading him to appear weak as PM in his last 2 years Ø Small majorities can lead to weak and unstable governments, with PMs in hoc to small groups of rebels – eg John Major’s problems with Eurosceptics Ø

How far does the Westminster electoral system ensure strong and stable government? ( c ) Ø Also, there are other factors aside from the electoral system which can undermine governments – for example economic factors (the recent recession), sleaze amongst MPs (hit Major particularly hard, but also the recent expenses scandal) and impact of foreign affairs (disputes over Cameron’s response to Arab spring also impacting on proposed defence cuts)

PRESSURE GROUPS

Outline two differences between pressure groups and political parties (a) Pressure groups seek to influence government rather than gain government office Ø Pressure groups have fewer internal structures than parties Ø Pressure groups are often single issue – parties cover a range Ø Pressure groups may resort to illegal action – parties are unlikely to do so Ø Pressure group finance is less closely audited than party finance Ø Pressure Groups are tending to enjoy higher membership than parties as people select the issues they wish to be involved with Ø

How and Why do some pressure groups use direct action? (b) Direct action is the process of becoming directly involved in political persuasion rather than using the medium of representatives or by voting Ø Many forms – marches and protests, strikes, civil disobedience, sit-ins, highway obstruction (Truckers and Fathers 4 Justice have both blocked highways) Ø Significant recent marches – against tuition fees (NUS – also organises sit-ins); March for an Alternative, against the cuts (TUC); Stop the War; anti-fox hunting (Countryside Alliance) Ø

How and Why do some pressure groups use direct action? (b) Some extreme groups (animal liberationists) have attacked institutions Ø Pressure groups use direct action because other means seem to have failed Ø Outsider groups especially use it, as they lack the inlfuence associated with insider groups Ø Illegality arises when the law itself is seen to be in dispute (hunting ban protestors, hunts themselves now, animal liberationists) Ø

To what extent are the largest pressure groups the most successful ones? ( c ) Ø Numerical strength does bring political leverage – eg RSPB tends to have influence on legislators Ø Numerical strength also brings financial support both in forms of membership subs and large donations which then allow adverts for further support (eg RSPCA and other charities)

To what extent are the largest pressure groups the most successful ones? ( c ) Ø Momentum achieved by large pressure groups can influence governments to change direction (eg protests against proposed sale of Forestry Commission land forced Cameron govt to retract in Jan 2011) or to introduce new policies (Snowdrop campaign to ban firearms after Dunblane massacre)

To what extent are the largest pressure groups the most successful ones? ( c ) HOWEVER Ø Numerical strength clearly doesn’t always guarantee success – eg Stop the War (it didn’t), tuition fee protests, anti-cuts marches.

To what extent are the largest pressure groups the most successful ones? ( c ) Pressure Group success can be attributed to other, sometimes more effective, factors – Ø The BMA is numerically small but has a significant impact on health matters, as present difficulties over NHS reforms show – govt is thinking of halting some of the more controversial such as GP funding Ø Celebrity backing can be crucial – Oliver (school food) and Lumley (Gurkhas); Philip Pullman and Andrew Motion opposed the abolition of Bookstart scheme Ø Well placed members of society – eg the opposition to Michael Gove’s proposed abolition of the School Sport Partnerships was opposed by former Olympians, headteachers and parents bodies and forced a change

To what extent are the largest pressure groups the most successful ones? ( c ) Rally Against Debt hosted very small protest in May 2011, but is still influential as a group which counts key Conservative MPs amongst its supporters Ø Thus, events, skills, expertise, the sympathy of a party in office – all can be more important than size in considering the success of pressure groups. Ø Could consider the elitist/pluralist argument here too Ø

PARTIES

Define two functions of a political party (a) To represent their members and promote their interests Ø To formulate policies on a wide range of topics Ø To contest elections by putting up candidates Ø To educate people about their policies through leaflets and manifestos as well as media influence Ø To ensure legislation is passed through parliament and provide for effective operating of the parliamentary system Ø

Explain what is meant by the term Thatcherism (b) Emphasis upon the individual as opposed to the state Ø Rolling back the state Ø Free market economics (privatisation policy) Ø Strong law and order tactics Ø Anti trade unions Ø Latterly euro-sceptic (eg Thatcher’s Bruges speech – she warned against a ‘united states of Europe’) Ø

To what extent do the UK’s major parties accept Thatcherite ideas and policies? ( c ) New Labour was set up to embrace and modify Thatcherite changes such as privatisation, not to remove them Ø Blair also emphasised strong position on law and order (“Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”) Ø Brown and Miliband have, on the whole, maintained this. Thatcherite consensus – they have not sought to return to nationalisation or liberalise their attitude to crime issues Ø

To what extent do the UK’s major parties accept Thatcherite ideas and policies? ( c ) Ø Conservative Party retained its Thatcherite outlook after her departure Ø Her successors as leader were all Thatcherite – notably Hague, Duncan Smith and Howard; even Major continued to pursue privatisation (eg rail, post office) Ø Low taxation remains key Cons. Belief Ø Free market and individualism thrives Ø Euro-scepticism the norm

To what extent do the UK’s major parties accept Thatcherite ideas and policies? ( c ) Ø Lib Dems endorse individual rights and do not advocate revoking Thatcherite economic measures; ‘Orange bookers’ like Clegg and Laws sought to turn the Lib. Dems in a more right-of-centre direction (which smoothed their decision to join in coalition with Cameron)

To what extent do the UK’s major parties accept Thatcherite ideas and policies? ( c ) HOWEVER Ø Blair emphasised community over individual Ø Major sought to soften rhetoric of Thatcherism Ø Even Hague, IDS and Howard tried to ‘modernise’ Thatcherite social authoritarianism at first Ø Cameron explicitly rejected the idea that “there is no such thing as society”.

To what extent do the UK’s major parties accept Thatcherite ideas and policies? ( c ) Constitutional reforms by Blair (devolved assemblies) and proposed by coalition strike against Thatcherite centralisation Ø Striking example of return of localism in resurrection of Greater london Assembly and creation of London Mayor Ø Cameron seeks to turn Tories into more ‘One Nation’ party; emphasises commitment to NHS; no lower taxes; softer approach on crime (exemplified by Ken Clarke at Justice, but also Cameron’s own claim to need to ‘understand more’) Ø

Further Party Developments Labour Ø Miliband is being influenced by a new strand of thinking to take Labour forward, called “Blue Labour” Ø Developed by academic Malcolm Glasman (enobled by Miliband) and supported by MPs such as David Lammy and Jon Cruddas

Further Party Developments “Blue Labour” seeks to re-connect with a working class vote by re-emphasising old Labour values, as well as embracing some Thatcherite ones (eg family) Ø Socially conservative but promoting community values amongst working classes Ø Ed Balls also challenges fiscal conservatism with a more Keynesian approach to the economic recession Ø

Further Party Developments Conservative Ø While Cameron is seeking to maintain a moderate, ‘One Nation’ stance for the Tories, he is under increasing pressure from his right-wing MPs (and the website Conservative Home) to assert more obviously ‘Conservative’ policies Ø Tory MPs unhappy about prisoner reform policies coming from Ken Clarke

Further Party Developments Ø Would like to see pledge to lower taxation sooner Ø Want to keep the Lansley reforms of the NHS Ø Would like to see International Aid cut to help fund a stronger defence budget (Liam Fox has sought to exploit this)