Democracy and Voting

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Politics is the study of power:

  • Politics as institutions (government, EU and local council)
  • Politics as activity (voting, getting involved)
  • Politics as conflict (Tries to resolve conflicts mostly through non-violence)
  • Politics as power (dictates social activities):
  1. Coercive (Stalin)
  2. Persuasive (Blair/Bush)
  3. Absolute (Tsar Nicholas)
  4. Legitimate (Western Democracy leaders)

Definition of Power:

Max Webbers 3 types of authority:

  1. Traditional (Monarchy, hierarchal, conservative)
  2. Rational/Legal (Power from rules and legitimate ways into power)
  3. Charismatic (Special qualities to exercise authority; eloquence – Blair)

Contemporary Version:

Stephen Luke’s 3 Faces of Power:

  1. Decision-making force (Parliament, council, laws)
  2. Non-decision making force (Cabinet, MI5)
  3. Manipulative desires/force (Nazi: “Jews are bad”)

Democracy

Comes from the greek (Demos = People and Kratos = Rule, Tule by the People). First form in Athens – (90% couldn’t vote, just free white men and the rich). Two principles of democracy:

  1. Equal Access (To run, vote, take part)
  2. Equal Freedom and civil liberties

For democracy to be effective, it must include checks and balances. The power must not be concentrated (to class, spectrum, etc.), and must have the power separated – devolved, “power corrupts absolutely”

Features of Democracy:

  • Competitive elections (choice)
  • Freedom of speech, press, expression
  • Political Parties
  • Equality of vote
  • Due process
  • Human rights and liberties

Sovereign is the “ultimate authority” in the land. Two main types of democracy:

  1. Direct Democracy: citizens directly involved (Athens – not effective: forced, concentration, hard to come to decision, decision made may be interested of those who are voting
  2. Representative Democracy: citizen indirectly involved (they vote and people make decision on behalf of them, participation of direct = minority)
  • Parliamentary Democracy (UK): This when the government/executive is appointed by legislature/Parliament (subject to reviews). Automatic labelling dependant on votes: PM = leader of majority party.
  • Liberal Democracy (US): Any decisions made are subject to the rule of law
  • Other types: Pluralist (anyone can stand), Totalitarian (co-ercive), Socialists (help the people), Anarchists (direct)

Political Participation: Relates to the range of activities by which individuals attempt to influence who should govern and decisions (made by those who do govern).

Reasons for voting: We get our say, change political and social climate, for a cause, improve democracy, right to complain, effective voting system, valued around the world,

Votes in the UK: Regional, referendum, regional, general elections

Things that influence votes:

  • Class – Professional business men better education, better income are more likely to take part.
  • Media
  • Age – Care more about single issued things, apathetic, more interested in direct action. Old: more conservative (tax)
  • Gender – Men more likely to vote (But Blair caused more = sexy). Women starting to become more active
  • Ethnicity: Jews (high turnout, integrated), Asians (Empire), Black (low)
  • Party Politics
  • Party Leaders
  • Opinions Polls
  • Issues
  • Policies
  • Geography – Rural: lack of access (low turnout). Urban: High (easy access), Inncer City = Low
  • Parents – Socialisation: more outgoing in Politics
  • Economic Uncertainty: 40:30:30: Secure/Welloff:Insecure Employment: Poverty/Unemployed

The decline in turnout may be down to:

  • Apathy – contentment for status quo or lack of interest and enthusiasm in Politics
  • Alternative ways – such as protests, referendums, boycotts
  • Alienation – feeling apart from everyone else, the political system (such as youth and ethnic minorities)
  • Party (lack of) difference – “The more things change, the more they stay the same”
  • Post-materialist age – people’s priorities have changed and they care more about other issues such as environment and human rights

Voting Trends:

Turnout is low (59%)

Not determined by social class as much

Rise in protest votes

No longer party affiliation

UK and US:

  • In the UK and US (well established democracies) political participation has fallen below the norm. And, to a level some people may consider to be unhealthy.
  • Other types of political participation are confined to a small well-educated, well-off minority
  • Crewe (1999) discovered that 80% of pupils engage in very little discussion about public affairs which affect them directly.

Milbrath and Goel (1977) have recognised three types of participator in the political process:

  1. Gladiators: Those that actually take part in the politics (MPs, forefront of politics, direct action)
  2. Spectators: Those who observe and limit participation to voting
  3. Apathetics are the non participants. Don’t watch or care about outcome of elections.
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Parry et all findings: 23.2% involved in variety of activities beyond voting, 51% limited participation to voting, 25.85% were inactive. – However was done in 1980.

Socialisation: Family take part in politics than your politics to take part in politics.

Disenchantment: people lose trust and faith in those who govern (leads to apathy which is damaging)

  • “Americans of all ages, of all stations in life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations” Alexis de Tocqueville We are SOCIAL BEINGS
  • However, a trend of declining social participation has been identified ...

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