Year 12: An Introduction to the Key Terms Used in A Level Politics
Democracy:
Democracy
|
Any political system where the people have a say in the running of the country. From the Greek words 'Demos Kratia'. meaning 'Rule by the People' or 'People Power'.
On its own the term is problematic, as it doesn't specify how much involvement is required by the people for the country to be seen as a democracy - and lots of countries have claimed to be democracies, which have been questioned as to whether they were, or are democracies, |
Direct Democracy
|
A political system where the people attend, speak at and vote at the decision-making forum themselves, they do not need representatives to make decisions on their behalf. So there are mo elections.
The example of this system is Ancient Athens 500 BCE. All decisions are voted on by all the people, and the majority (50% +1) view wins. Some modern democracies may use elements of Direct Democracy in their decision-making, such as Referendums. Direct Democracy is often seen as the 'Ideal type of Democracy', or the 'Purest Democracy'. It can also be called 'Participatory Democracy'. Direct Democracy worked for Ancient Athens, it was a small city state with 40,000 free citizens, who could vote - who were all men, who also had slaves which gave them the time to investigate the issues of the day, and they didn't have to consider the vast array of issues of complex modern nation-states, that include Welfare States and global political issues. It is also seen as impractical, as the populations of modern societies couldn't all attend the decision-making forum, and do so for every vote. Although, modern computer systems may now make this possible, with e-democracy. Majoity rule also has its problems, if the majority and the minority are always the same groups of people, for example certain ethnicities, then the majority may remove the rights of the minority - which we call Tyranny of the Majority. |
Indirect Democracy
|
A political system where the citizens do not attend, speak or vote in the decision-making forum, instead they elect representatives to do so on their behalf.
The representatives, such as Members of Parliament, are voted in to represent a geographical area called a constituency, in an election. Decisions are by a majority vote of the representatives at the decision-making forum, thus supposedly representing a majority of the citizens. Also called Representative Democracy. This system is meant to ensure that those involved in making the decisions, the representatives, understand the issues of the day - they are employed to keep up on current affairs and the political issues of the day. They will also act responsibly when making these decisions because they know that they will face another election in the future and if they haven't respected the wishes and interests of the voters, their constituents in their constituency, they could be replaced. It is also more practical, as a small number of representatives will assemble at the decision-making forum, rather than the whole population. They can also be on hand to be recalled quickly in the event of an emergency. This system is also more likely to put in rules to prevent the majority taking away the rights of the minority, thus preventing the Tyranny of the Majority. Indirect Democracy also has its problems, there is no guarantee that the representatives will vote in the interests of their constituents, they may vote according to their personal interests, or because political parties are likely to develop, they may vote in line with their party instead, doing what their party leader says. It also means that between elections the people have little or no say in politics, until the next election. This may mean that what has been established in an election, is an 'Elected Dictatorship'. Also because the citizens only have to think about politics at each election, they may 'Free-Ride' and leave politics up to their representatives, and so they get used to not participating and therefore rarely take part and democracy declines. They also as 'Free Riders' fail to monitor their representatives who can then do what they like with the position and powers they have. |
Indirect / Representative Democracy can be categorised into different types - such as Western/Liberal Democracy, Soviet Democracy or African Democracy.
Western or Liberal Democracy
|
This is system of Representative Democracy that has the following features:
|
Western / Liberal Democracy can be broken down into two further types of Democracy - Parliamentary and Presidential:
Parliamentary
Democracy |
Parliamentary Democracy is a form of Western/Liberal Democracy, whose main example is the UK.
There is only one route to power and that is through Parliament.
|
Presidential Democracy
|
Presidential Democracy is a form of Western/Liberal Democracy, whose main example is the USA.
There are numerous routes to power.
|
The Branches of Government:
Political Systems, such as the UK and USA, divide the way their country is governed into three key arms, that political scientists call 'Branches' - the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary, you will frequently mention these in your Politics classes.
Legislature
|
|
Executive
|
|
Judiciary
|
|
The Main UK Political Parties:
Political Parties can be placed on the 'Political Spectrum', this is the range of Political Beliefs spanning from Left Wing to Right Wing. The terms Left Wing and Right Wing are those used since the time just before the French Revolution, where those representatives favouring the people sat to the King's left, and those supporting the King and the monarchy sat on the King's right. And so, those are the terms that have stuck and been used for over two hundred years.
The Political Spectrum
Left
|
Centre
|
Right
|
Favour the Working Classes and Trade Unions
Believe in Equality and Community Believe in Cooperation and Brotherhood Communist Party Labour Party |
A mixture of both Left and Right
Liberal Democrats |
Favour Middle & Upper Classes and Businesses
Believe in Individualism and Inequality can drive progress Believe in Competition, Tradition and Patriotism Conservatives Brexit Party UKIP |
The general 'Political Spectrum' above is a brief simplification, and is open to a number of criticisms:
- The two extreme sides of Left and Right become so similar that they aren't separate poles, like on a magnet, but actually come together in a horsehoe shape or a ring,. This is because they are said to lead to authoritarian governments that use the police and military to suppress freedom.
- Environmentalists, or Greens, see it as characterising industrial society which they disagree with and claim it cannot place them on the range given. (Modern Western Green Parties, tend to be placed on the Left of the Political Spectrum, however, environmental political positions can span the entire spectrum, from Left to Right.
- Nationalism in the United Kingdom, doesn't necessarily follow the above pattern,. Traditionally, Nationalist parties are placed on the Right wing, and whereas that may be true of such parties in England, in Scotland (SNP) and Wales (Plaid Cymru) the nationalist parties actually follow Left wing policies.
To be continued.... Note you can see Virtual Tours or Parliament and the game 'Be an MP for a Week' on our 'Lockdown Learning' page.