Evaluate the view that the UK is facing a 'participation crisis'. - ANS P1 - there is falling participation in
elections in recent years.
- Turnout in general elections has been falling since 1979 - it was 76% in 1979 and in 2001 it was just
59%
- European, local and other elections have seen e...
Uk politics essay plans
Evaluate the view that the UK is facing a 'participation crisis'. - ANS P1 - there is falling participation in
elections in recent years.
- Turnout in general elections has been falling since 1979 - it was 76% in 1979 and in 2001 it was just
59%
- European, local and other elections have seen even lower turnouts - 35.2% in 2014 European elections,
36% in 2018 local elections, 15.1% for police commissioner elections in 2012
- *find stats about referendum
P2 - evidence of falling participation in other areas
- Party membership has fallen since in 1980s there are fewer party activists, leading to difficulties in
recruiting candidates locally
- The public is disillusioned with the lack of core differences between political parties leading to partisan
dealignment
- Voter registration among young people is lower than among older people
- Public trust in politicians has been undermined by scandals such as sexual harassment allegations e.g
*add example
P3 - positive participation suggests turnout levels may not be so bad
- Turnout levels have risen in general elections - 59% in 2001 and 69% in 2017
- If we combine voting for all new elections, political participation has risen
- The Scottish independence referendum 2014 saw a an engaged population turnout of 85%, 75% of 16-
17 year olds voted + the European Union referendum in 2016 had a very high turnout of 72.2%
, - Some argue that the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party has reinvigorated young
people. The 2017 general election saw large numbers of young people registering to vote and then
voting.
P4 - other forms of participation in politics are continuously growing
- The number and membership of pressure groups has increased, suggesting participation has changed
- There have been over 26,000 e-petitions on the governments website
- Protesting through the use of social media like facebook has become increasingly popula
Evaluate the extent to which compulsory voting and lowering the voting age may be the best ways to
improve participation in the UK. - ANS P1 - Some argue that compulsory voting would be more
representative and legitimate
- Governments could claim greater legitimacy
- Political participation is a civic duty; compulsory voting would have wider educational implications as
all of society would be aware of this fact
- The greater the level of political participation, the greater the likelihood that citizens will think and act
as full citizens
P2 - However, to force someone to vote may be unfair as there may be no real choice for them
- Compulsory voting would simply mask deeper engagement issues
- It could encourage non-serious voting
- It could be considered a violation of individual freedom
P3 - Lowering the voting age would be beneficial
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