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Politics_Essay plans (UK politics)
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Politics_Essay plans (UK politics)
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Politics/Essay plans (UK politics):Evaluate the extent to which pressure groups widen the distribution of political power. (30
marks) - correct answer-R1: - Help represent those often ignored by government. 2009
Gurkha campaign.
Cp: Most successful groups are insider representing a minority such as the CIB.
R3: Sectional groups play a key role of representing a group in society. National farmers
union, 2013 badgers cull.
Cp: Doesn't distribute political power insider groups just enclose more power for a minority.
Animal rights groups ignored, despite large support.
R2: - Pressure groups can spearhead popular movements in actual change. The Snowdrop
campaign.
Cp: Not always the case, BLM 69% support yet little change.
Evaluate the extent to which increased referendums would be good for democracy in the UK.
(30 marks) - correct answer-R1: Wholly democratic more feel their vote matters unlike FPTP,
evident in high turnout in recent referendums.
Cp: The norm is low turnout - 1997 Welsh devolution vote barley above 50% - Brexit was an
exception, countries such as Switzerland show frequent referendums lead to apathy and
disinterest.
R2: Strong check on the elective dictatorship. Prevents government from being remote and
unaccountable.
Cp: Gov doesn't have to call referendums, Blair and Brown no ref on 2007 Lisbon treaty.
Only call one when it suits them. Plus ref leads to tyranny of maj, Swis 2009 minaret vote.
R3: Help to raise voters political awareness. 2014 Scottish referendum praised for airing
through debate on complex issues such as the future of the nuclear deterrent based on the
river Clyde.
Cp: Challenge to parliamentary sovereignty, leads to deadlock, we live in a representative
democracy so complex decisions should be left to those qualified.
Evaluate the extent to which the UK can be said to suffer from a participation crisis. (30
marks) - correct answer-R1: Very low turnout for second order elections. May 2016 local
elections average turnout just 33.8%.
Cp: Very high turnout for critical votes, 2019 election and Brexit referendum.
R2: Party membership - good indicator of participation - is a an all time low. Only 1.6% of the
electorate belongs to one. Tories 150,000 2016 1990s over 450,000.
Cp: People more dissatisfied with two party system, increasing political activity in other
areas. Shown through many success direct action campaigns.
R3: Crisis in youth participation, and apathy in response to political sleaze. 2009 expenses
scandal. 2015 survey politics least trusted by the public.
, Cp: High youth participation online, e-democracy - 2007 1.8 million sign petition stopping
road charging. Huge youth leadership in BLM movement.
Evaluate the argument that the media shape public opinion and voting behaviour: (30 marks)
- correct answer-R1: Newspapers have direct impact on readership. 1992 "Sun wot won it."
As the Sun changed support from L to C 2005 to 2010 there was 13.5% swing from Sun
readers.
Cp: 12.5% occurred before the Sun's announcement. Sun following their readership rather
than vice versa, need to appeal to readership for profit.
R2: Partisan and class dealignment lead to fewer core voters. 1997 10% swing, 2015
election 111 seats changed hands. More valence voters which the media had large influence
over. 2015 election only 22% found Ed Miliband to be prime minitrial, this narrative was
driven by tabloids. As the parties were similar this valence issue key.
Cp: Reinforcement theory; people just read what they already agreed with to avoid cognitive
dissonance. Have selective exposure, retention and perception of what they read.
Particularly with social media. Telegraph over 70% identify with Con party, over 65%
Guardian readers with the Lab party.
R3: Media if not directly influencing, sets the agenda and influences not how we think but
what we think about. Found in run up to 2015 election, more coverage on the economy (Con)
then other salient issues like the NHS (lab.)
Cp: Less getting news from traditional TV sources, more from online sources and
confirmation basis.
Evaluate the extent which minor parties impact the political argument and debate in
contemporary Britain. (30 marks) - correct answer-R1: Huge success of issue based parties
recently. UKIP 3.9 million 2015 votes, backing Cameron into a referendum. SNP 56 seats
2014 Scottish elections.
Cp: Not a true threat to major parties, just temporary issues. major parties still dominate main
political debate.
R2: Success of third party, Lib-Dems 23% 2010 and their role holding the balance of power
in the coalition.
Cp: Very short lived lost all but 8 seats 2015 election. Failed to have influence in coalition, no
scrapping of university fees. Not consistent enough to be two and half party system.
R3: Ability to split vote of major parties.
Cp: Rarely win seats or influence in the commons.
Evaluate the extent to which the Conservative party has abandoned Thatcherism. (30 marks)
- correct answer-R1: Stated his support of the "big society" and the cooperation between the
state and the voluntary sector.
Cp: However was a smokescreen for large spending cuts after the 2008 financial crash,
austerity. The budgets of Whitehall were cut by up to 25%
R2: Dropped the moral authoritarian tone. Cameron passing gay marriage rights 2013.
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