Evaluate the view that referendums create more problems than they solve - Referendums
aggravate deep factionalism within the government, which leads to greater instability and weakness.
Indeed, it would seem that they create more problems than they solve The EU ref was called to silence
the euro...
POLITICS - ELECTORAL AND VOTING
BEHAVIOUR ESSAY PLANS
Evaluate the view that referendums create more problems than they solve - ✔✔✔Referendums
aggravate deep factionalism within the government, which leads to greater instability and weakness.
Indeed, it would seem that they create more problems than they solve The EU ref was called to silence
the euroscepticism within the Conservative parties but it has just amplified the divisions within that
party
Paragraph 1:
Brexit is a massive example of referendums causing more problems than they solve:
Risks the breakup of the UK as Scotland voted to remain
52 vs 48% showed a deeply divided country
Created a big issue over the irish border
Resignation of Cameron
Years later there is still a political deadlock. Tyranny of the majority
Para 1: brexit with 48 vs 52 but this is not the case with scottish independence as this was clear. So
maybe this is just the nature of brexit and not referendums themselves
para 2
- political education would only improve with repeated referendum use could lead to apathy and
referendum fatigue. Turnout to EU referendum was lower in Scotland. Welsh Devo ref 1997, North East
devo low turnout
Additionally, people were not correctly educated in the 2016 EU referendum and misinformation, bias
and scaremongering was rife and a biased media may create an unfair arena. However this may not be a
problem with the concept of referendums but just how they would be conducted in the UK
BUT
- participation
, allowing debate on one particular issue, referendums help create a better informed electorate. improve
democracy people would get more educated overtime.
It would also increase civic engagement as the electorate would feel like their vote is not wasted like it
could be in the FPTP system and so perhaps turnout would increase as 2014 scottish independence ref
turnout was 84.5% (although the turnout was only 42% in the 2011 AV ref), 16 -24 year olds were had
the highest turnout in ind r
Evaluate the view that the wider use of referendums would improve democracy in the UK - ✔✔✔
INTRO- come under more scrutiny since 2016 EU ref, although traditionally seen as non-British in Atlees
word 'alien', they would enhance democracy with a transformation of the electoral system from
representative direct.
para 1 - DIRECT D
- ensures that people can vote without distorted rep by politicians, and help give quick and decisive
responses and solutions - BREXIT
BUT
the gov does get to frame the question and decide when to deliver it, maybe they are just smokescreens
for democracy - cameron thought he would win. also, we elect representatives for a reason, the public
can be ill-informed and mps are trustees not just delegates
para 2 - participation
allowing debate on one particular issue, referendums help create a better informed electorate. improve
democracy people would get more educated overtime.
It would also increase civic engagement as the electorate would feel like their vote is not wasted like it
could be in the FPTP system and so perhaps turnout would increase as 2014 scottish independence ref
turnout was 84.5% (although the turnout was only 42% in the 2011 AV ref), 16 -24 year olds were had
the highest turnout in ind ref.
BUT
- political education would only improve with repeated referendum use could lead to apathy and
referendum fatigue. Turnout to EU referendum was lower in Scotland. Welsh Devo ref 1997, North East
devo low turnout
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