Evaluate the view that the UK faces a participation crisis in democracy.(30 marks)
Within the UK participation in democracy has varied over time for a number of
factors.These factors are average voter turnouts in elections,lack of party
membership and a general feeling of ‘happathy’.Overall it can be seen that there
is somewhat a crisis within uk democracy currently as a result of these factors
with voter turnout being the main issue and key indicator of this crisis..
The most important factor is that it can be argued that the UK is facing a
participation crisis due to the fact that in recent general elections average voter
turnout has been much lower than between 1945-1997 (70%), this coupled with
the fact that it hit its lowest point of 59% as recently as 2001 shows a lack of
voter care and disinterest that could be linked to a disillusionment from the public
towards politics in recent times ,on top of this lower level elections turnouts are
even lower, with an average of a 30% turnout in local council
elections .Compared to this party membership may contribute to this issue due to
the fact if people are not a member of a party it may be an indication they are
less interested with politics a whole, leading to disinterest and therefore a lower
chance they will turnout.Despite this it could be argued that this is no longer the
case due to recent polls indicating that voter numbers have been on a steady rise
since 2001 as seen through the 67% turnout in the previous general election as
well as the fact that more young people have recently got into politics as seen
through the turnout of 16-17 year olds in the scottish independence election
(75%) indicating another rise.Overall it can be seen that there is still a crisis as
we are still yet to hit voting numbers from between 1945-97 which could lead to a
questioning of a government's mandate as they are not getting a substantial
proportion of the populus.
Furthermore the second most important factor is that it can also be argued that
there is a participation crisis due to the lack of party membership in recent times,
with only 1% of the UK population members of political parties it can be implied
people do not care about UK politics or don't care enough to support a party
showing a participation crisis.With voter numbers for the conservatives on a
steady decline since the 1990’s, with a current 170,000 members being a small
proportion and posting issues around weather or not their leadership elections
are fair as they do not represent majority interest.This can be compared to the
feeling of ‘hapathy’ leading to people not caring enough to look into or support a
Within the UK participation in democracy has varied over time for a number of
factors.These factors are average voter turnouts in elections,lack of party
membership and a general feeling of ‘happathy’.Overall it can be seen that there
is somewhat a crisis within uk democracy currently as a result of these factors
with voter turnout being the main issue and key indicator of this crisis..
The most important factor is that it can be argued that the UK is facing a
participation crisis due to the fact that in recent general elections average voter
turnout has been much lower than between 1945-1997 (70%), this coupled with
the fact that it hit its lowest point of 59% as recently as 2001 shows a lack of
voter care and disinterest that could be linked to a disillusionment from the public
towards politics in recent times ,on top of this lower level elections turnouts are
even lower, with an average of a 30% turnout in local council
elections .Compared to this party membership may contribute to this issue due to
the fact if people are not a member of a party it may be an indication they are
less interested with politics a whole, leading to disinterest and therefore a lower
chance they will turnout.Despite this it could be argued that this is no longer the
case due to recent polls indicating that voter numbers have been on a steady rise
since 2001 as seen through the 67% turnout in the previous general election as
well as the fact that more young people have recently got into politics as seen
through the turnout of 16-17 year olds in the scottish independence election
(75%) indicating another rise.Overall it can be seen that there is still a crisis as
we are still yet to hit voting numbers from between 1945-97 which could lead to a
questioning of a government's mandate as they are not getting a substantial
proportion of the populus.
Furthermore the second most important factor is that it can also be argued that
there is a participation crisis due to the lack of party membership in recent times,
with only 1% of the UK population members of political parties it can be implied
people do not care about UK politics or don't care enough to support a party
showing a participation crisis.With voter numbers for the conservatives on a
steady decline since the 1990’s, with a current 170,000 members being a small
proportion and posting issues around weather or not their leadership elections
are fair as they do not represent majority interest.This can be compared to the
feeling of ‘hapathy’ leading to people not caring enough to look into or support a
