Democracy and empowerment

1. Democracy and empowerment Some perspectives Empowerment & participation in the Network Society: 21 March 2006 Ian Johnson

2. In a nutshell:Beyond the Soundbite: (BBC, 2002)

3. Deconstructing the problem: electoral issues- registration Electoral Commission figures, based on 2000 ONS dataNon - registration and social exclusionTotal population: 8 % - 9 % - Around 3.5 million

4. Deconstructing the problem: electoral issues - turnout trendsGeneral elections, 1945-2005

5. Deconstructing the problem: electoral issues - turnout (millions)2001 General Election59.4% (2nd lowest since 1847, lowest since 1918)2005 General Election: 61.4 % (3rd lowest since 1847, 2nd lowest since 1918)More than 1 in 10 voted for parties other than Labour, Conservative or Lib/Demabout half the increase in turnout in 2005 was due to the trebling of the postal vote to 12%Whilst 12% encouraged others to vote for a party, 37% encouraged others not to vote for a party (compared with 15/19% spilt in 1997)

6. Deconstructing the problem: political party membershipMembership of the 3 main parties 1964 - 2001

7. Deconstructing the problem: political party loyalties - %age very strongly identifying with a political party1964 – 2001, British Election Survey

8. Deconstructing the problem: trades union membership(millions)

9. Deconstructing the problem: trust ICM poll for BBC News 24, March 2005 • 92% said politicians never gave "a straight answer". • 87% said politicians did not keep the promises they made before elections • 73% said politicians had shown themselves to be dishonest too often.

10. Political engagement: activityAn Audit of political engagement 2: Electoral Commission/Hansard Society, March 2005

11. Political engagement: contentmentAn Audit of political engagement 2: Electoral Commission/Hansard Society, March 2005

12. Political engagement: contentment - young people and having influence on local issues

13. Isolated from politics?Beyond the Soundbite: (BBC, 2002)

14. Current political climate Lack of competition, centralisation, similarity of parties, decline in political efficacy Political culture and public attitudes Weakened sense of personal impact, consumerist approach, disconnection Individual resources Lack of knowledge/skills, time and money State structures Lack of influence, reduced accountability, complexity, out of date, out of touch, too infrequent Mobilising agencies Decline of traditional networks, growth of single issue advocacy and leisure networks Social and economic change Shifts in post-industrial society, social exclusion, disconnected youth culture & increasing future impact Role of media in British politics Weakened political knowledge “ Long distance lens” Main Research findings: summary

15. RED HERRINGS Apathetic, uninterested public with a weak sense of public duty Culture of contentment Low calibre of politicians nowadays Lack of competitive elections Media causes disengagement Lack of time KEY EXPLANATIONS Citizens and party members do not have influence Political parties seen to be too similar Electoral system seen as unequal and leading to wasted votes Political parties require too broad a commitment Lack of knowledge Inconvenient voting procedures Red Herrings and key explanations: Power to the People, 2006

16. Alternative voting systems More consultation Citizenship education Greater regulation and scrutiny “What has been particularly striking…has been the extent to which none of the above responses…have been fundamentally democratic in their inspiration. They are primarily technocratic or self-interested electoral responses. At best…useful addendums to a democratic system, but nobody in government seems to have looked seriously at the principles, practices, or history of democracy, as a possible source of answers to the worrying problem of disengagement.” What is the Government is doing – and criticisms by the Power Inquiry

17. A few other things the Government is doing

18. Key proposals by others for reform • Electoral reform • Party Funding • Devolving power • Greater public participation in decision making • Action on social exclusion from democracy • Youth focus • Compulsory Voting • Access to Parliament and MPs • Improved scrutiny • Building citizenship

19. MAJOR SHIFTS Rebalancing of power away from the Executive and unaccountable bodies towards Parliament and local government Introduction of greater responsiveness and choice into the electoral and party systems Allowing citizens a much more direct and focused say over political decisions and policies SELECTED RECOMMEDATIONS Limits on the powers of whips 70% elected House of Lords Decentralisation Responsive electoral system State funding for local political activity MPs required to engage with their constituents POWER INQUIRY Proposals

20. Cherry picking? • “These three imperatives stand or fall alongside each other. The implementation of only one or two of the three will not create the reengagement with formal democracy which many people now want.Cherry-picking – a folly repeated time and time again by our political masters – will not work.”

21. Democracy and empowerment Some perspectives Empowerment & participation in the Network Society: 21 March 2006 Ian Johnson