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To what ext...
Evaluate the extent to which pressure groups enhance democracy in the UK:
Pressure groups are an association of ppl which seek to influence public policy & decision
making.
Yes because they educate people about Existence of pressure groups may not lead
important issues, leading to a better to a better informed electorate as
informed electorate Greenpeace campaigns only really provide one sided
independently monitors air quality and the view. For example anti-EU pressure groups
level of radioactivity in the UK and reports like ‘Better out campaign’ have more
its findings to the public and government. influence over the electorate through mass
Greenpeace also educates the public about media outlets via Murdoch owned the Sun.
the dangers of pollution and the need to cut may not enhance democracy because
back on our carbon emissions. This easily influenced ppl can vote without
information and guidance is an educative knowing the whole story, can lead to bad
function which is of benefit to a progressive decisions which can be said of Brexit and it
democracy. This is significant because by being reduced to simply “taking back
doing this, it they’re able go gain support control”
from the public about issues that face them This can lead to tyranny of the majority
that they may not now about. which which could impact the minority groups
enhances democracy because an such as immigrants or ethnic minorities,
educated electorate can make more which may undermine democracy by
educated decision when voting by taking exposing representative democracies
into account manifesto based on the weaknesses.
information they know.
They give a voice to minority groups, who Preventing a democratically elected
are often ignored by mainstream politics. government from carrying out its role by
For example SHELTER represent the stopping the mandate upon which the
interests of homeless people, prevents government secured the election. For example
tyranny of the majority and ensures that all Anti-austerity pressure groups campaigning in
views can be accounted for in a western Trafalgar Square against cuts to welfare
political system, which improves democracy following the 2015 election. Doesn’t enhance
with more people being represented. This is
democracy because legitimately elected
significant because by doing this, MPs may
politicians voted with a mandate from the
be made aware of these issues that they
would’ve otherwise not be, such as the public may not be able to put through their
Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 passed policies. Does not enhance democracy because
by Bob Blackman. Promotes a pluralist they were elected and have the will of the
democracy. public to pass said laws even though it may not
have been in the manifesto.
Finally, pressure groups benefit democracy In response to the notion that pressure
as they disperse power. This follows the groups are beneficial in delivering pluralism
notion of a pluralist democracy where which supports democracy, some suggest
groups compete in an open forum for that it is not pluralism but elitism which
change and progress. In a pluralist emerges and as such this is detrimental to
environment, pressure groups can prevent democracy. Elite theory suggests that the
a powerful minority section from having total more rich and prosperous pressure groups
control in society. Rival and competing dominate the political forum and produce
pressure groups articulate differing views, political inequality. Hence, rich groups such
discuss openly the options available and as as the Confederation of British Industry and
a result of this process the government is the Law Society have much more power
, able to make an informed decision with than groups such as the black lives matter
reference to the facts and the opinions of UK. The result is the wealthy and privileged
many people. Important because Pressure exert an unequal influence. Small, less
groups can really benefit electoral prosperous groups have no real power and
democracy. As general elections are only are ignored in the democratic process. This
held once every 5 years, pressure groups could be seen to cover the economically
help to make up for this shortfall and they and financially weak pressure groups such
become vehicles to raise issues and enliven as Shelter and Age Concern — in general,
political debate. For instance, pressure groups representing those with no financial
groups help to keep the government in weight.
touch with public opinion between elections.
They can monitor the problems which they
face and see at first hand, issues they have
to act upon. Governments have close
contact with the National Farmers’ Union,
the British Medical Association and the
Confederation of British Industry to gauge
concerns
Evaluate the extent to which rights are effectively protected in the UK:
Yes because of the Human Rights Act 1998 No because it seemed that wealthy
which incorporated the European individuals, who can afford to take legal
Convention on Human rights into law. action had an fair advantage. Such as 08
Rights inc right to life could now be the high court awarded Max Mosley
defended in UK courts, for example Abu damages when News of the World
Qatada who was a extremist preacher who published a story about his sex life, argued
fought deportation to Jordan cuz he might breached his privacy. Those lower class
be tried using evidence obtained under cannot go to court to defend their rights, can
torture, a breach of the HRA. made much lead to a breach in rights against them. Can
more convenient because they didn’t have lead to them still being oppressed
to travel to a separate country to defend
their rights, the government becoming more
limited - something that liberals calls for.
Yes the common law and other statutes No because parliament is legally sovereign,
passed by Parliament also play an so can sign pass an act of parliament that
important role in protecting individual rights could overturn court decision potentially
by imposing important legal constraints violating human rights. For example, in 04
upon public authorities. For example, the when law lords ruled that indefinite
Equality Act 2010 prevents public detention was discriminatory, govt passed a
authorities discriminating on the basis of law introducing system enabling suspects to
race, sex, disability and other grounds of be closely monitored (later modified to
equal treatment. This is good because it TPIM), could arguably violate right to
explicitly lays out citizens rights like a bill of privacy. Can lead to tyranny. diluting rights
rights which educates the public against protection
potential discrimination.
Yes because of UK’s long history of No because it is vulnerable to political
protecting human rights. As early as the attack, with Conservative calls replacement
Magna Carta in 1215 which Stated that no by a ‘British Bill of Rights’, which would
one should be deprived of liberty or property reduce the influence of Strasbourg on UK
w/out due process of law. The UK’s law and limit the existing scope of judicial
, uncodified constitution has allows rights to protection of rights in areas such as national
pass through easily by a 50%+ vote in security and immigration control. This is bad
Parliament which can be implemented in because it can lead to cases where
common law. New rights that are relevant to defendants face the government and be
our modern world may thus easily be disadvantaged favouring the govt.
added, rights are protected.
Evaluate the view that representative democracy is superior to direct democracy
far better suited to dealing with a large May lead to reduced participation as people
electorate. Direct democracy may work very choose to hand responsibility to politicians.
well among a small group of people, but the Can lead to apathy which wouldn’t be found
larger the group the more difficult it is to run in a direct democracy where people feel
effectively. Representative democracy responsible in the decisions they make, Yes
eliminates this difficulty by operating on a because voters may feel that conventional
much smaller scale the majority of the time politics have let them down, lead to the rise
(via elected representatives of the in a rise in politics outside the ballot box,
electorate as a whole). Only practical including pressure groups like BLM staging
system in a large, modern state, where protests, e-petitions like the 2019 one to
issues are complex such as Brexit which revoke article 50 reaching 6m signatures.
requires a elected officials to carry out. This is due to apathy because overtime
people may feel ignored by MPs in the UK
political system leading them to look
elsewhere to get heard
Politicians form parties, bringing coherence Parties & pressure groups often run by
and giving people a real choice of elites who pursue their own agenda, not
representation. Pressure groups form to truly representing the people. Removes the
represent different interests, promoting need for trusted representatives, as people
debate and encouraging pluralist can take responsibility for their own
democracy (gov makes decisions as a decisions. POWER CORRUPTS (Lord
result of various ideas and contrasting Action). For example, it can be argued that
arguments from competing groups and the conservative party is a party run by the
organisations). In the UK this was extended elite who vouch for tax cuts for the rich to
by late 90s devolution acts such as the benefit them and spending cuts and
1998 scotland act which borough parties withdrawal of the state (austerity). With
and representational politics closer to the direct democracy removes this.
ppl, such as the SNP in Scotland.
One of the most essential duties of the state Minorities may still find themselves under-
is to guarantee the rights of minorities. represented as politicians are more likely to
Under the model of direct democracy the follow the views of the majority to secure
rights of minorities might never be ensured. election. For example, Direct democracy
In conservative societies around the world gives power to people by by-passing other
we see how, for example religious organisations. Governments are constantly
minorities are sidelined from main stream 'lobbied' by businesses, trade unions and
society and are not granted their other groups, which means that they get
fundamental rights. This is because under special consideration when it comes to
direct democracy, the majority will rule and writing laws. Ordinary people don't have this
will not grant basic rights to minorities just kind of access to politicians, and so giving
because they can do so. This Is a very them direct control would level the playing
crucial issue in modern world, where field. National Farmers Union’s links to
minorities are oppressed just because the Defra were instrumental in bringing about
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