Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

Democracy and Participation (Democracy (Direct Democracy (A simple…

- - - - No: turnout
        
        GE turnout is rising, from 59% in 2001 to 69% in 2017
    - - No: pressure groups / electorate mood
        
        apathy could also be seen to cause low turnout, with people generally happy with the state of affairs and not wanting change, such as in 2001 when the economy was growing
        
        when issues are perceived to be more important, such as referendums, turnout is higher, with the Scottish referendum giving 84.6% and EU 72.2%
        
        social media has revolutionised participation with e-democracy, including online petitions allowing millions to take part - 1.8 million signed a road charging petition in 2007
        
        direct action has become more popular, with demonstrations such as pro EU, tuition fees and pride marches all gaining mass participation, and the Iraq war demonstration seeing over 1 million people turn out in London
    - - No: party membership
        
        Labour leader election saw an increase of membership to 515,000 in 2016
        
        Lib Dems estimated now to have over 82,000 members
        Smaller parties growing, 24.8% of 2015 vote went to the other parties - SNP membership has risen from 25,000 in 2013 to 120,000 in 2016, whilst Greens had 13,800 in 2015 and 55,000 in 2016, and UKIP had 32,400 in 2013 but 39,000 in 2016
- - - - initial goals were too radical - so the BMA revised them
      - These were accepted by the public, and with their credible and reputable scientific links they were widely popular
      - They had already completed reforms such as banning smoking in public places, so were well known. They also were able to use technology and funding, and were recouseful in the parliamentary approach, going through the Lords who were willing to support them
    - - Failed - they had too broad objectives, with no practical or achievable objectives
      - no long term organisation, with support from the church but no sympathy from the government or authorities
      - social media allowed them to gain vast support but there were no real outlined goals
  - - - This leads to more subscriptions and funding, and this can then allow them to gain more full time staff and campaign more - RSPCA has 1600 full time employees and takes full page ads and tv ads
      - However, the government may not always pay attention - the Nuclear Disarmament Campaign in 1980s had 110,000 members, however Thatcher didn't change the policies.
    - - Pressure groups rely on public reaction, and may not be successful if they alienate the public. The snowdrop campaign to ban handguns was successful after the 1996 Dunblane shooting killing 16 children and a teacher
      - Celebrities can be used, such as Save the Children's adverts, and Joanna Lumley campaign for Gurkha's soldiers rights to remain in the UK
    - - The RSPCA haver combined with LACS and IFAW to ban hunting with dogs in 2004