Democracy and participation exam question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of greater use of direct democracy? [debate]

→ Advantages

1)Promotes political participation as the people have a role to play in decision making

• For example direct democracy has been utilised more frequently in the form of e- petitions - encouraging people to become more politically informed and bring light to issues that may not be popular

• Petitions with 10,000 signatures warrant a response from government and those with 100,000 can be chosen to be debated in parliament e.g. 2017 petition that wanted to stop Trump state visit (got 1.86 million signatures- a lot of engagement)

• Petitions have the ability to influence legislation E.g the glue trap act 2022 following 2021 petition

• Which can act as an incentive for more people to engage with politics if they believe they can make an impact

2) Improves accountability

• Elected representatives cannot viably ignore the wishes of the people- they must be responsive to the needs of the electorate

• So forms of direct democracy provide a useful corrective when the views of government and MPs do not algin with the rest of those in the country - enhancing accountability

• For example the 2016 EU referendum - PM Cameron was a strong supporter of remaining in the union but the referendum conveyed that the people wanted to leave - creating a democratic obligation for the gov to implement Brexit- Cameron resigned and may took office with a commitment to deliver the desired outcome

3) Enhances legitimacy

• Decisions made on the basis of direct democracy have the direct authority and mandate of the people giving them greater legitimacy and public consent

• For example the 1997 devolution referdums consolidated the calls for the delegation of powers and enabled Blair to implement such large scale desciosns grounded in public approval rather being imposed unilaterally

• And during elections individuals may not completely agree with a party’s manifesto- so direct democracy allows people to voice their opinions on specific changes

→ Disadvantages

1)

d

d

d