...Assess the various measures, other than electoral reform, that have been suggested to improve democracy in the UK. The other measures to improve democracy in the UK are: having more referendums, lowering the voting age, making voting compulsory and finally the use of digital democracy. And this essay will assess all the measures and also it will determine which measure is the best to improve democracy in the UK. The first measure, which has been suggested to improve democracy in the UK, is the use of more referendums. A referendum is a popular vote where the people are asked to determine an important political or constitutional issue directly. A referendum has pros and cons. Firstly referendums are a device of direct democracy, which gives the general public direct and unmediated control over the governments decision making, this ensures that the public’s views and interests are always taken account of and are not distorted by politicians who claim to “represent them”. Another advantage is that referendums actually help to create a better informed, more educated and more politically engaged electorate, which gives the members of the public a strong incentive to cast there vote. Also another advantage is that referendums reduce the power of the government, because the government has less control over their outcome than it does over parliament, and therefore citizens are protected against the danger of over mighty government. And a final advantage to referendums is that there...
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...Assess the various measures, other than electoral reform, that have been suggested to improve democracy. Democracy can be defined as an individual’s rights and liberties being protected in a liberal society and the ability to vote in fair, free elections. Sceptical nations have argued the democratic system in the UK is anything but democratic. Suggested ways to improve this would be to lower the voting age to 16, increase the use of referendums and reform the House of Lords to be an elected chamber. On the one hand, the most important way to improve the democratic framework to the UK would be to increase the use of referendums. Considered to be the rawest form of direct democracy, it allows the electorate to cast their decision as a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to what the executive may be asking. Examples of this include the 1975 EU referendum on whether Britain would remain in the EU, resulting in a turnout of 64% and the Scottish Independence referendum of 2014 which has a turnout of around 86%. The increase use of referendums would improve democracy in the UK because it would mean that citizens can directly respond to political concern, raising participation. It also checks on elective dictatorships- ensuring they are accountable to the public. From this, it is evident that increasing the use of referendums would improve democracy as it ensures the accountability of government and raised participation. On the other hand, referendums would have a negative impact on democracy...
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...AS Politics Edexcel AS Politics ExamBuster 2009 Introduction to Unit 1- People and Politics Understanding the Examination and Exam Technique Choosing your questions In this unit you are presented with four questions. They are of equal value and each question covers one of the four sections of the specification. These are: Democracy and political participation Party policies and ideas Elections Pressure groups There is no significance to the order in which questions appear. Each question is divided into three sections (a), (b) and (c). When choosing which questions to do, the following principles are recommended: It is almost certain that you will be better off choosing your strongest question to do first. You should choose questions on the basis of how well you can answer the section (c) part. The (c) part carries 25 of the 40 marks available for the whole answer. Do not choose a question simply because you can do part (a) especially well. The (a) question is only worth 5 marks. It would be illogical to choose your strongest (a) part if you cannot do well on section (c). If you cannot decide between several (c) parts, i.e. you can do more than one equally well, make your choice on the basis of part (b) which carries 10 marks. But remember, it is the (c) parts that will determine most what your overall mark will be. So, when you first look at the exam paper, look at the (c) sections first. Assessment Objectives Each question is divided into three sections, as follows:...
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...Nigeria’s democracy. Elections in Nigeria continue to elicit more than casual interest by Nigerian scholars due to the fact that despite the appreciation that only credible election can consolidate and sustain the country’s nascent democracy, over the years, Nigeria continues to witness with growing disappointments and apprehension inability to conduct peaceful, free and fair, open elections whose results are widely accepted and respected across the country (Ekweremadu, 2011). All the elections that have ever been conducted in Nigeria since independence have generated increasingly bitter controversies and grievances on a national scale because of the twin problems of mass violence and fraud that have become central elements of the history of elections and of the electoral process in the country (Gberie, 2011). Despite the marked improvement in the conduct of the 2011 elections, the process was not free from malpractices and violence (National Democratic Institute, 2012). Thus over the years, electoral processes in the history of Nigeria’s democratic governance have continued to be marred by extraordinary display of rigging, dodgy, “do or die” affair, ballot snatching at gun points, violence and acrimony, thuggery, boycotts, threats and criminal manipulations of voters' list, brazen falsification of election results, the use of security agencies against political opponents and the intimidation of voters (Bekoe, 2011). Despite the vital place that election holds in democracy in this...
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...A COMMONWEALTH OF THE PEOPLE Time for Urgent Reform The Report of the Eminent Persons Group to Commonwealth Heads of Government Perth, October 2011 Published by the Commonwealth Secretariat Designed by Rob Norridge/norridgewalker.com Printed by Hobbs the Printers, Totton, Hampshire Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom info@commonwealth.int www.thecommonwealth.org Acronyms ACP ACTA ARV ASEAN AU CBA CBC CFTC CGF CHOGM CHRI CiO CMAG CMG CMGSS COG CS-DRMS CSFP CSO CYC CYDF CYO CYP EPG EU Gt G20 HIV/AIDS IDEA IEA IMF MDGs MFN SPD TRIPS UNDP WTO African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement Anti-retroviral drugs Association of South-East Asian Nations African Union Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Commonwealth Business Council Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation Commonwealth Games Federation Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Chairperson-in-Office Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Commonwealth Media Group Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Small States Commonwealth Observer Group Commonwealth Secretariat’s Debt Recording and Management System Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan Civil Society Organisations Commonwealth Youth Corps Commonwealth Youth Development Fund Commonwealth Youth Orchestra Commonwealth Youth Programme Eminent Persons Group European Union Gigatonnes The Group of 20 major advanced and developing...
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...A COMMONWEALTH OF THE PEOPLE Time for Urgent Reform The Report of the Eminent Persons Group to Commonwealth Heads of Government Perth, October 2011 Published by the Commonwealth Secretariat Designed by Rob Norridge/norridgewalker.com Printed by Hobbs the Printers, Totton, Hampshire Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom info@commonwealth.int www.thecommonwealth.org Acronyms ACP ACTA ARV ASEAN AU CBA CBC CFTC CGF CHOGM CHRI CiO CMAG CMG CMGSS COG CS-DRMS CSFP CSO CYC CYDF CYO CYP EPG EU Gt G20 HIV/AIDS IDEA IEA IMF MDGs MFN SPD TRIPS UNDP WTO African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement Anti-retroviral drugs Association of South-East Asian Nations African Union Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Commonwealth Business Council Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation Commonwealth Games Federation Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Chairperson-in-Office Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Commonwealth Media Group Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Small States Commonwealth Observer Group Commonwealth Secretariat’s Debt Recording and Management System Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan Civil Society Organisations Commonwealth Youth Corps Commonwealth Youth Development Fund Commonwealth Youth Orchestra Commonwealth Youth Programme Eminent Persons Group European Union Gigatonnes The Group of 20 major advanced and developing...
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...Recovery ......................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Evidence........................................................................................................................................... 3 3 FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PERFORMANCE OF DECENTRALIZED SERVICE PROVISION...................................................................................5 3.1 The Political Framework................................................................................................................ 5 3.1.a Constitution and Legal Framework......................................................................................... 5 3.1.b Political and Electoral Systems ............................................................................................... 6 3.1.c Unitary vs. Federal...
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...GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS AS LEVEL UNIT TWO GOVERNING THE UK “Never, never, never give up” Winston S Churchill 1874-1965 1 GOVERNING THE UK 50% of AS [25% of A2] UNIT TWO SAMPLE QUESTION Answer one question from Section A and one question from Section B in 80 minutes. Spend 40 minutes on Section A and 40 minutes on Section B SECTION A QUESTION ONE PRIME MINISTERIAL POWER “For too long the big political decisions in this country have been made in the wrong place. They are not made around the Cabinet table where they should be, but they are taken on the sofa in Tony Blair’s office. No notes are kept and no one takes the blame when things go wrong. That arrogant style of government must come to an end. I will restore the proper process of government. I want to be Prime Minister of this country not a President (Source: David Cameron, The Times, 5th October 2006) “The Cabinet is the committee at the centre of the British political system. Every Thursday during Parliament, Secretaries of State from all departments as well as other ministers meet in the Cabinet Room in Downing Street to discuss the big issues of the day. The Prime Minister chairs the meeting, selects its members and also recommends their appointment as ministers to the monarch. The present Cabinet has 23 members (21 MPs and two peers). The secretary of the Cabinet is responsible for preparing records of its discussions and decisions”. (Source: From a modern textbook) (a) What...
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...The London School of Economics and Political Science THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE DEMOCRATISATION OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE INSTITUTIONS: From ‘Soft Power’ to Collective Decision-Making? Saif Al-Islam Alqadhafi A thesis submitted to the Department of Philosophy of the London School of Economics for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, London, September 2007 Declaration I certify that the thesis I have presented for examination for the MPhil/PhD degree of the London School of Economics and Political Science is solely my own work other than where I have clearly indicated that it is the work of others (in which case the extent of any work carried out jointly by me and any other person is clearly identified in it). The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. Quotation from it is permitted, provided that full acknowledgement is made. This thesis may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of the author. I warrant that this authorisation does not, to the best of my belief, infringe the rights of any third party. 2 Abstract This dissertation analyses the problem of how to create more just and democratic global governing institutions, exploring the approach of a more formal system of collective decision-making by the three main actors in global society: governments, civil society and the business sector. The thesis seeks to make a contribution by presenting for discussion an addition to the system of international governance that is morally...
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...Security Concerns, Military Threat 4 PRESSURE WORKS Archbishop Desmond Tutu Daw Aung San Suu Kyi U Lwin, NLD Spokesman Asian Activists Malaysian Parliamentarians Sen. John McCain & HE Madeline Albright Sanctions Take Time Engagement is not working 6 WHAT THE REGIME IS BEING URGED TO DO 6 WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CAN DO 6 A BAN ON FINANCIAL REMITTANCES – THE PRACTICAL OPTION 7 A LIFELINE FOR THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT 7 A NON-VIOLENT BARGAINING CHIP 8 TAKING AIM AT SPDC’S ECONOMIC LIFELINES 9 CREATING DOMESTIC PRESSURE FOR CHANGE Undermining Moderates? 10 INSTIGATING REGIONAL ACTION 11 SPDC – FEIGNING REFORM & ROLLING OUT THE CHARM 11 DAMPENING EFFORTS Relabeling Enabling Remittances Business Diplomacy 13 SANCTIONS & SEX WORK Burma’s biggest pimp Increasing since 1988 Jumping the Gun Low Factory Wages Insufficient evidence Numbers of job losses disputed Job losses from capital flight Reforms needed 14 PEOPLE OF BURMA SUPPORT SANCTIONS 15 PREDICTIONS : Brief Chronology of ‘Predictions’ by the Thai Government 17 RECENT ARMS& DEFENSE EQUIPMENT ACQUISITIONS 18 ROGUE REGIMES – Pyongyang & the SPDC 19 GOING NUCLEAR! 21 REGIONAL THREAT 22 THE WORST SANCTION The Ongoing Banking Crisis Investor-Unfriendly Climate APPENDIXES 24 Burma: An Albatross for Both Asean & Europe, By Kavi Chongkittavorn. The Nation, Jun...
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...CPMR Research Report 5 Changing Local Government A Review of the Local Government Modernisation Programme Richard Boyle, Peter C. Humphreys, Orla O’Donnell, Joanna O’Riordan, Virpi Timonen CPMR 1 CPMR Research Report 5 Changing Local Government A Review of the Local Government Modernisation Programme Richard Boyle Peter C. Humphreys Orla O’Donnell Joanna O’Riordan Virpi Timonen 2 First published in 2003 by the Institute of Public Administration 57-61 Lansdowne Road Dublin 4 Ireland in association with The Committee for Public Management Research www.ipa.ie © 2003 with the Institute of Public Administration. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 1 902448 98 7 ISSN 1393-9424 Cover design by Butler Claffey, Dún Laoghaire Typeset by the Institute of Public Administration Printed by Future Print, Dublin 3 CONTENTS Executive Summary 7 Part 1: Chapter 1: 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 SETTING THE SCENE FOR THE STUDY Introduction Focus of report Study background and terms of reference Study approach and methodology Report structure 18 18 18 19 ...
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...extent to which it is able to exert any ideational influence is constrained by the level of engagement it is willing to pursue. Europe maintains a policy of isolating the Lukashenko regime and has failed to engage Belarusian civil society. As a result it has had a negligible impact on Belarusian political culture. Europe’s failure to adequately engage Belarus also suggests a contradiction within the European identity construction. Introduction Since the establishment of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Europe has sought to play an increasingly active role in global affairs. It has demonstrated a growing confidence in its unique political union that has, so far, resisted being undermined by its economics. This union has been founded...
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...China’s political and economic rise and what it means for the world is now a central preoccupation of analysts and policy-makers. Public awareness of China is likely to increase as the 2008 Olympics in Beijing draw near. This Research Paper is intended to act as a resource that Members of Parliament and their staff can draw upon when engaging with China’s remarkable transformation. Part I provides key facts and figures about China. Parts II and III review recent developments and future prospects by addressing four key questions. Is political authoritarianism sustainable? Can China’s development be peaceful? What are the main domestic economic challenges facing China? What is China’s impact on the world economy? Part IV summarises key aspects of UK and EU relations with China. The Paper ends with a select bibliography of key sources. The Research Paper is intended to act as a platform for a series of Library Standard Notes that will address in more depth specific issues about China that there is space here only to discuss briefly. Jon Lunn, Maria Lalic, Ben Smith and Claire Taylor INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE SECTION Ed Beale, Ed Potton, Ian Townsend and Dominic Webb ECONOMIC POLICY AND STATISTICS SECTION HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY Recent Library Research Papers include: List of 15 most recent RPs 06/21 06/22 06/23 06/24 Unemployment by Constituency, March 2006 Direct taxes: rates and allowances 2006-07 The Northern Ireland Bill [Bill 169 of 2005-06] Social Indicators [includes...
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...economic environment. Markets have begun to swing on fears that the global recovery may be faltering, while risks of extreme events are rising. Amidst this gloomy landscape, India stands out as a haven of stability and an outpost of opportunity. Its macro-economy is stable, founded on the government’s commitment to fiscal consolidation and low inflation. Its economic growth is amongst the highest in the world, helped by a reorientation of government spending toward needed public infrastructure. These achievements are remarkable not least because they have been accomplished in the face of global headwinds and a second successive season of poor rainfall. The task now is to sustain them in an even more difficult global environment. This will require careful economic management. As regards monetary and liquidity policy, the benign outlook for inflation, widening output gaps, the uncertainty about the growth outlook and the over-indebtedness of the corporate sector all imply that there is room for easing. Fiscal consolidation continues to be vital, and will need to maintain credibility and reduce debt, in an uncertain global environment, while sustaining growth. On the government’s “reformto-transform” agenda, a series of measures, each incremental but collectively meaningful have been enacted. There have also been some disappointments— especially the Goods and Services Tax—which need to be retrieved going forward. Accelerated structural reforms at the Centre, the dynamism...
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...O´Mens Graphix, Accra, Tel.:021-238098 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I wish to acknowledge the contribution of all those who made this project a success. First, I give glory to the Almighty God for bringing me this far in my academic and professional pursuit. Secondly, I express my thanks to all my lecturers in the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, who have nurtured me onto this path of professional and academic life. Thirdly, I am grateful to all our key informant interviewees from all the institutions/ministries/political parties who gave us their time and valuable information used for this study. Fourthly, I wish to sincerely acknowledge the contribution of my research assistants, Alfred Appiah and Nimingah Beka, national service personnel of the Department of Political Science for their dedicated service during the data collection. Finally, I would like to express my thanks to the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) for commissioning this study and giving me the opportunity to carry it out with financial and institutional support. I would like to state that, except for quotations or references which have been dully acknowledged, this is the result of a research I conducted personally. God Bless all who contributed to this effort. i TABLE OF CONTENT FOREWORD WOMEN IN POLITICS AND PUBLIC LIFE __________1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY____________________________________2 CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION ________________________5 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.6 Introduction...
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