Advantages and disadvantages of direct democracy

Created by: Milbob1
Created on: 21-10-18 12:35


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	Advantages Gives weight to equal votes, unlike a representative system where the varying sizes of constituencies mean that votes do not all have equal value Encourages popular participation in politics by expecting people to take their duties as citizens seriously Removes the need for trusted representatives, as people can take responsibility for their own decisions Develops a sense of community and genuine debate The only true form of democracy (rule by the people), especially as parties and pressure groups are often run by elites pursuing their own agendas, not truly representing the people) Politicians may be corrupt and incompetent and put loyalty to their party before responsibility to the electorate or betray election promises	Disadvantages Impractical in a large, heavily populated modern state where decision-making is complicated Many people will not want to- or feel qualified to- take part in decision-making, so political activists decide what happens Open to manipulation by the cleverest and most articulate speakers, who will persuade people to support their viewpoint Will of the majority is not mediated by parliamentary institutions, so minority viewpoints are disregarded (e.g. 48.1% of people voted against Brexit) Politicians are (in theory) better informed than the average citizen about the many issues on which they must take a view Referendums, the modern-day example of direct democracy is expensive: e.g. the estimated cost of conducting the EU referendum has been put at £142.4 million. Politicians will only call referendums if they think they will win Referendums can be divisive and controversial, upsetting many
	Evaluation Direct democracy is impractical in modern-day society and decisions should be left to politicians who are better informed than the average citizen. However, It is sometimes a good idea to have direct democracy within a representative democracy, eg national referendums and the 2015 Recall of MPs Act, which allows representatives to be held to account

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Advantages

Gives weight to equal votes, unlike a representative system where the varying sizes of constituencies mean that votes do not all have equal value
Encourages popular participation in politics by expecting people to take their duties as citizens seriously
Removes the need for trusted representatives, as people can take responsibility for their own decisions
Develops a sense of community and genuine debate
The only true form of democracy (rule by the people), especially as parties and pressure groups are often run by elites pursuing their own agendas, not truly representing the people)
Politicians may be corrupt and incompetent and put loyalty to their party before responsibility to the electorate or betray election promises

Disadvantages

Impractical in a large, heavily populated modern state where decision-making is complicated
Many people will not want to- or feel qualified to- take part in decision-making, so political activists decide what happens
Open to manipulation by the cleverest and most articulate speakers, who will persuade people to support their viewpoint
Will of the majority is not mediated by parliamentary institutions, so minority viewpoints are disregarded (e.g. 48.1% of people voted against Brexit)
Politicians are (in theory) better informed than the average citizen about the many issues on which they must take a view
Referendums, the modern-day example of direct democracy is expensive: e.g. the estimated cost of conducting the EU referendum has been put at £142.4 million.
Politicians will only call referendums if they think they will win
Referendums can be divisive and controversial, upsetting many

Evaluation

Direct democracy is impractical in modern-day society and decisions should be left to politicians who are better informed than the average citizen. However, It is sometimes a good idea to have direct democracy within a representative democracy, eg national referendums and the 2015 Recall of MPs Act, which allows representatives to be held to account

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Advantages and disadvantages of direct democracy

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Advantages

Disadvantages

Evaluation

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