Political Apathy And The Threat Of Democracy - 1315 Words

What is political apathy and does it pose a threat to democracy? In 1950, voter turnout for the United Kingdom General Election peaked at a respectable 83.9% of the population. This number has dwindled steadily since then dropping to 72.7% in 1972 and in more contemporary times in the most recent UK General Election in 2015, this number drops to a worrying 66.1%. (House of Commons Research Papers, 2015) Does this statistic and blatant political apathy of 22.5 million people spark a threat to democracy? In order to assess whether political apathy poses a threat to democracy, the terms â€Å"political apathy† and â€Å"democracy† must first be defined. Apathy as defined by Oxford Dictionaries means a â€Å"Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern† (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016). Applying this to politics, political apathy can be defined as the lack of interest in actively taking part in politics either by voting or having no share in political activities. DeLuca puts political apathy into perspective: â€Å"X (a person) is apathetic with respect to Y (politics) if he or she is content with and/or uninterested in present political decision or arrangements. X freely chooses not to vote or participate in electoral activity.† (DeLuca, T. 1995 pp.78). The latter term â€Å"democracy† can be defined as a complex concept that centres on ensuring freedom for all citizens within a state or country. There are a number of strands of democracy: Protective, Plurali st, Developmental and Participatory - of whichShow MoreRelatedâ€Å"Democracy Is Popularly Conceived As Government Of The1547 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"Democracy is popularly conceived as government of the people, for the people and by the people† (Hassan, 2003). The term is used to describe a political process by which all citizens and the nation have a direct involvement in the creation of running a country and creating the policies within it. Evidently it can be argued that political apathy is a serious threat to democracy directly. Contradictory to this representative democracy selects applicable individuals to allow them to be a voice forRead MoreAQA GOVP1 past papers1601 Words   |  7 Pagesmain roles and functions performed by political parties within the UK political system. 5: Explain the term sectional groups used in the extract. 10: Using your own knowledge as well as the extract, identify and explain two criticisms of the sectional group/cause group typology. 25: Evaluate the factors that can result in some pressure groups being more successful than others. Jan 13 Mark scheme Examiners report 5: Explain the term democracy as used in the extract. 10: Using yourRead MoreThe Port Huron Statement Of The Students For A Democratic Society1118 Words   |  5 Pageswith American politics and economics, and provided possible solutions to these pressing issues. The statement is meant to inform society, and create an ongoing discussion between citizens, students, and elite members to construct a free and equal democracy. The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) acknowledges that the world is ever changing by including that the statement is â€Å"a living document open to change.† Similar to the SDS, the United Students Against Sweatshops aims to improve quality ofRead MoreRacism And Its Subsequent Civil Liberty1234 Words   |  5 Pagesupon its own demise, when he said, â€Å"But it was impossible to save the Great Republic. She was rotten to the heart. Lust of conquest had long ago done its work; trampling upon the helpless abroad had taught her, by a natural process, to endure with apathy the like at home; multitudes who had applauded the crushing of other people s liberties, lived to suffer for their mistake in their own persons†. A common theme of the animated television show Futurama is the concept of multiculturalism and its subsequentRead MoreAnalysis Of John Sullivans Political Tolerance1406 Words   |  6 PagesIn John Sullivan’s Political Tolerance and American Democracy, he explores American public opinion regarding deviant political groups, and how far the people are willing to uphold the democratic values in the face of resistance to the social norms. This is done in order to delve into the long seated â€Å"controversies over the legitimacy of radical opposition to its liberal regime† (â€Å"Political Tolerance†). Sullivan proceeded to conduct survey research into how far citizens perceived the right to freeRead MoreThe Jacksonian Democratic Party1423 Words   |  6 Pagesindefeasible and fundamental privileges†, he called for a party to become the sen tinel of the original American democracy. And for many, the Jacksonian Democratic Party filled that role. The Democrats, who pursued a democracy that entailed economic and social independence for the common citizen, faced harsh opposition from the Whig Party in the Second American Party System. But apart from the political tensions of the era, the mid-1800’s were host to numerous movements and events that embodied, and didn’tRead MoreU.s. Foreign Policy Decisions716 Words   |  3 Pageseveryone, not only because of threats of terrorist attacks or the danger of war, but for far more mundane reasons.† (Kaufman pg. 3). Here Kaufman begins to unravel the differences between these two types of foreign policy. The extraordinary are the issues surrounding war, terrorist attacks, cyber warfare. The mundane, is as simple as the labels on your clothing, but as complex as who is allowed entry into the U.S.. These topics do not elicit as much of a reaction, because as Kau fman argues â€Å"the foreignRead MoreFactors Affecting The Electoral Elections Of Zimbabwe And South Africa1345 Words   |  6 Pagesdeclining electoral turnout in Zimbabwe and South Africa. After just twenty years of attainment of national independence from United Kingdom, in the year 2000, Zimbabwe experienced what can only be termed a major setback in its transition to democracy. Without threat of defeat from opposition parties, the ruling party ZANU PF had enjoyed dominance in Zimbabwe, where they enjoyed victory after victory in elections. Zimbabwe Parliamentary Elections of 2000 saw ZANU PF face formidable opposition from theRead MorePolitical Theories And Ideology Of Liberal Democracy Essay1626 Words   |  7 PagesMany challenges put a stress on Modern Democracy because of the political theories and ideology our government holds, the current politicians taking office, inequalities throughout social classes and economies, and the opinions of â€Å"We the People†. N early every country claims to be some form of a democracy, but not all these self-proclaimed democracies allow for free politics, good government, and rule of law (Crick, 2002). Liberal democracy has begun to win over its royalist, fascist, and collectivistRead MoreMontesquieu s Spirit Of Laws And Jean Jacques Rousseau s On The Social Contract1620 Words   |  7 Pagestheir interpretation of different forms of government converge on the sovereignty of a democracy, but that is where most of their common ground lies. While Rousseau shares similarities on the sovereign authority of a democracy with Montesquieu, he departs by arguing how regardless of government, sovereignty always rests in the hands of the people. He also disagrees on how the populace should participate in the democracy and on their representation in government, making his principles more relevant today