Condition of Democracy in the UK Dr Maurice Mullard 5 December 2008

Condition and Health of British Democracy Decline of Parliament Political Parties Party discipline Briefings on policy statements bypassing Parliament Mrs Thatcher One of Us Blair Sofa Government Brown proposals to strengthen Parliament

Strengthen Parliament Blair press as Feral Beasts Iraq War lessons for democracy Appointments Select Committees Decision on going to war

New Politics The Global challenge the need for expertise the idea of a British interest beyond parties Crime Race and Immigration should not be polarising issues Citizen jurors give data and information be part of policy making

What role political parties Parties do make a difference Achievements of government Ideology Expectations

The New democracy of the Internet Getting Information Political Blog The break with elites Pandora’s Box Elites and mob rule Assault on reason

The Constitution UK Bill of Rights Human Rights Act Devolution Local government Citizens jury

PROBLEMS WITH DEMOCRACY How do we read the history of democracy Born of struggles – hopes and optimism To challenge elite power That politics does matter

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY Social Policy and Welfare States – part of the optimism and the promise Human rights Accountability Political parties

DISILLUSIONMENTS OLIGARCHY – ELITES GLOBAL BUSINESS ELITES – DISTORT DEMOCRACY FINANCE FOR POLITICAL PARTIES BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION IN THE POLICY PROCESS

THE PASSIVE CONSUMER CITIZEN FROM PUBLIC TO CITIZEN AS CONSUMER POLITICS AND THE MEDIA THE LOSS OF IDEOLOGY THE NEW ANTI POLITICS

Post democracy Political vacuum the emergence of new social movements New technologies blogging – the internet The sound bite politics Surveillance and the State

POLITICAL IMAGES Passivity and legitimacy New Elites and income inequalities Politics represent views End of collectivism and class struggles