Is the UK a liberal democracy? Said Bakiev lower 6 th
Plan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. What is a “liberal democracy”? Political participation in the UK Elitism in parliament Elitism among pressure groups The actions by the government Secrecy levels in Britain Conclusion Sources of information
Liberal Democracy • Free and fair elections • Limited government • Government is accountable to people • All citizens are equal under the law • Separation of power (Montesquieu) • The rights safe guards (“Bill of Rights”) • Peaceful transition of power • Representative institutions • Free access to information (Montesquieu) (Mill) (Lincoln) (Madison)
The UK’s political participation • Party membership = 600, 000 citizens (< 1% of population, 2008; tutor 2 u. net) • Low levels of turnouts (<65% in 2010; tutor 2 u. net) • Increasing membership of pressure groups (RSPB had over 1 million members in 2007, (William Maloney))
Elitism in parliament • Unelected House of Lords • Some unelected MPs represent various sections of society • The power of lobbying • Miliband: the system may be democratic, but it operates in the interests of the bourgeoisie • Low number of ethnic or female MPs • Over-powerful executive
Elitism and pressure groups • • Privileged insider pressure groups Disproportional influence (the farming community) Donations (Labour and Trade Unions) Discrepancies in financial terms among insiders and outsiders
The government’s actions • Participation in Iraq war inspite of the massive demonstrations in London (2003) • The Northern Ireland conflict (Bloody Sunday, 1972) • Joining the European Common Market (1972) (22 March, 2003, London) ( 38 th Anniversary Commemoration, Derry, 31. 01. 2010)
High degree of secrecy in Britain • Official Secrets Act, Section 2 (1989) • Existence of General Communication Headquarters • Wiretapping in G 20 summit, 2009 (GCH) (Edward Snowden, the person who revealed scandal information about wiretapping representatives of different countries during G 20, 2009 by British special services jointly with the USA agents)
Conclusion The UK is a liberal democracy, but, as it seems, only formally… Improvements are needed…
Used material and sources of information • • • Google-images Tutor 2 u. net Integratedsociopsychology. net Baltinfo. ru Edexcel “Government and Politics for AS” fourth edition • Edexcel exam buster and revision guide pack for AS politics • Edexcel activity pack unit 1 “People and politics”
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