IGCSE - Global Citizenship - Democracy.pdf

Theme 1
Politics and Governance
01

Theme 1 Section A:
DEMOCRACY, STATE AND SOVEREIGNTY
01

A1
Introduction to
Global Citizenship

The IGCSE Edexcel Global Citizenship subject is an
international qualification offered by Edexcel, which
is a subsidiary of Pearson Education. It is designed to
develop students' understanding of global issues
and their role as responsible global citizens.
The Global Citizenship syllabus covers a range of
topics related to global awareness, intercultural
understanding, social responsibility, and
sustainability. It aims to foster students' critical
thinking, communication skills, and their ability to
take informed action on global challenges.
The subject typically covers areas such as human
rights, social justice, environmental sustainability,
poverty, inequality, conflict resolution, and the
impact of globalization. Students are encouraged to
explore real-world issues, analyze different
perspectives, and develop their own opinions and
solutions.

Starter
2 min task
What values and traits
might someone need to
be a good global citizen?
Try to list 4!

Environmental
stewardship
It involves actively working towards
sustainable practices, protecting the
environment, and promoting conservation
efforts to address climate change and other
environmental challenges.
Inter-cultural
understanding
A good global citizen should be able to
interact effectively and respectfully with
people from different cultures,
demonstrating awareness and
understanding of their beliefs, values, and
customs.
Respect for diversity
A good global citizen should demonstrate respect
for diversity. This involves appreciating different
cultures, religions, and backgrounds, as well as
valuing the contributions that diverse perspectives
bring to society.
Social responsibility
Being socially responsible is an
important trait. It means recognizing
one's role in society and taking action to
address social issues, such as poverty,
inequality, and discrimination, both
locally and globally.
What values and traits might someone need to be
a good global citizen?

Key Skills
This course will enable you to develop:
1. Knowledge of key issues and changes affecting
societies across the globe.
2. An understanding of how communities interact
locally, nationally, regionally and globally in
response to change.
3. Skills of enquiry, analysis and evaluation of different
perspectives in relation to global issues and
change.

What this course entails?
- The four topics
1. Politics and
Governance
2. Economic
Development and
Environment
3. Culture and
Community
4. Technology
1 2 3 4

After learning the 4 themes we
should be able to identify global
issues around the world and we
as a group get to pick one, we
would like to start an extended
project on. Including research,
reports, campaigning, fundraising
all for a global cause.
+ 5. Citizen and
Community Project .

Are there any global issues
that you can think of that
effects everybody?
2min to think!!

Are there any global issues
that you can think of that
effects everybody?
1. Water Scarcity .
2. Use of nonrenewable energies.
3. Slavery.
4. Climate Change.
5. Pollution – plastic, air, water.
6. Access to education (war and poverty).

SUBJECT VOCABULARY
Parliament:
a group of elected people who make laws for their country.
Elected:
to have chosen a person for a particular job by voting.
Citizen:
a person who has the right to be a member of a particular
country.
Electorate:
all the people in a country who are allowed to vote.
Policies:
set of ideas about what to do in situations that have been
officially agreed on by governments or political parties.
Collaboration:
two or more people working together to achieve or create
the same thing.
Entrepreneurship:
the activity of running a business in order to make money.
Democracy:
when power in a country lies with the people, who can vote
to elect their leaders.
Rights:
the things that citizens are legally allowed to do.

Keywords
Members of the UK Parliament (MPs):
Successful candidates who represent their
constituency in Parliament
Candidate:
A person who asks people to vote for him/her as their
representative.
Political Party:
A group of people with similar ideas who campaign
together to win elections.
Constituency:
An area of the country with around 60,000 voters.
Each of the UK constituencies elects one
representative to Parliament.

THE WORLD’S MODEL OF DEMOCRACY
Norway is known as a democratic country. Its parliament is elected every four years
and has 169 members. All citizens over 18 are automatically registered to vote. Voting is
not compulsory, but nearly 80% of the electorate usually vote. In the UK, this figure is less
than 70%, and in the USA, it is often below 60% of the electorate vote.
In Norway, there are several political parties who compete for people’s votes. However,
the parties are not focused on getting power for themselves, but instead work together
to create policies that help the Norwegian people. This collaboration gives the people
more power in the running of their country.
The population of Norway is almost 5.5 million, compared with almost 68 million in the
UK. It is a rich country because it uses the profits from its offshore oil to help the
country’s finances. There is more financial equality in Norway than in most other
countries due to a strong welfare state, higher taxes and entrepreneurship.
Norwegians feel a part of democracy because their voices are heard. They think of
politicians as ordinary people who earn fair salaries and care about what happens to
the country.

1. Who can vote in Norway?
2. What percentage of the
electorate usually votes?
3. Discuss why you think Norway
is a good model of
democracy.
4. compared to other countries.
What unique features does it
have?
Recall Quiz

THE ORIGINS OF DEMOCRACY
A democratic country gives power to the people. Democracies come in many
forms around the world, as people in some countries have more power than
others.
The word ‘democracy’ first appeared in Ancient Greece around 500 BCE.
However, there is some evidence from pre-history that suggests that groups
of
people who lived and worked together made decisions together.
In Athens in Ancient Greece, citizens could vote on decisions in public
meetings. However, only a limited number of people were classed as full
citizens with voting rights. The electorate was made up of only men over the
age of 18. Women, slaves, foreign nationals and children were all excluded.

SUBJECT VOCABULARY
Direct democracy:
All citizens vote directly on every decision about the
running of the country.
Referendum:
A vote by all citizens on a specific topic.
Issues:
Topics or problems that people are thinking and talking about.
Legally-binding:
An agreement, contract, decision etc. that the law
says must be obeyed.
Government:
The group of people who officially control a country.
Election:
The process in which citizens vote to choose a person to
represent them in managing the country.
Ballot:
A system or occasion of secret voting.
Representative democracy:
Citizens vote for people to represent them in making decisions
about the running of the country.

In a direct democracy, people meet to decide on new laws or to change
existing laws. As we have learned, in Athens in Ancient Greece, citizens met in
public gatherings and voted on every law. This way of voting is not possible in
democracies with millions of voters, but there are countries that use the idea to
make decisions. For example, in many US towns, citizens meet in town halls to
discuss and solve problems.
Other countries run referendums on particular issues. All citizens who have the
right to vote can take part. These votes or referendums can be legally-binding
for a government, so it has to carry out the people’s view. For example, in
Switzerland, 75% of citizens voted against being a member of the European
Union during a 2001 referendum. A referendum may also be advisory. This
means that the government has the benefit of public opinion but is not bound
by it. For example, the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016 in the ‘Brexit’
referendum. According to UK law, parliament does not have to carry out the
decision. But as the majority of citizens voted to leave democratically, some
argue this is a clear message to the government to take action on the people’s
behalf.
Direct Democracy

All Swiss citizens aged 18 and over have the right to vote
in elections and referendums. Voters are usually asked
four times a year to vote on about 15 government
proposals each time. This is mainly done by using a
ballot, but in a few areas of Switzerland people still
physically meet up and vote together.
Swiss citizens also have the right to vote in referendums.
The topics range from encouraging the use of cycle
routes (2018) to ensuring Swiss law has priority over
European Union law (2018). Fewer than 50% of people
CASE STUDY: DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN SWITZERLAND

Take down 3 bullet
points from the video

Democracy
1. This form of government is elected by the people,
and everyone is eligible to vote.
2. In the UK, the government system looks something
like this.
Draw a flow chart to show Qatar's government?
How is this different from the UK?

• Where does the word Democracy
come from?
• When did it first start?
• Name some of the key principles.
• How does a democracy represent its
citizens?
Plenary: What have
you learnt?

Plenary: What have
you learnt?
• Where does the word Democracy
come from?
The word "Democracy" originated from
ancient Greece. It comes from the
Greek words "demos" meaning "people"
and "kratos" meaning "rule" or "power,"
thus signifying "rule by the people."

Plenary: What have
you learnt?
• When did it first start?
Democracy first started in ancient
Athens, Greece around the 5th century
BCE. This form of government allowed
eligible citizens to participate in
decision-making and had elements of
direct democracy.

Plenary: What have
you learnt?
Political equality: All citizens have an
equal opportunity to participate in the
political process, express their views, and
have their voices heard.
Rule of law: The principle that all
individuals, including those in power, are
subject to and must abide by the law. This
ensures fairness, accountability, and
protection of individual rights.

Plenary: What have
you learnt?
Human rights: Democracy upholds the protection of
fundamental human rights, such as freedom of speech,
assembly, and expression.
Popular sovereignty: The power and authority of the
government are derived from the consent and will of the
people.
Pluralism: Democracy embraces and respects diverse
opinions, values, and interests, allowing for a range of
perspectives to be represented and considered.

Plenary: What have
you learnt?
• How does a democracy represent its citizens?
Elections: Citizens have the opportunity to elect their
representatives through free and fair elections. These
representatives then make decisions on behalf of the
citizens.
Political parties: Political parties provide platforms for
citizens to participate in the political process and
compete for government positions. They represent
different ideologies and policy proposals.

Plenary: What have
you learnt?
• How does a democracy represent its citizens?
Public participation: Democracies encourage citizen
engagement and participation through mechanisms
such as public consultations, referendums, and town hall
meetings. These allow citizens to express their opinions
and influence decision-making processes.
Freedom of expression: Democracies protect freedom of
speech and the media, allowing citizens to voice their
opinions, criticize the government, and contribute to
public debates.

To differentiate between a
representative and a
direct democracy.
Learner Objective

1. Who is the Head of the UK?
2. What is the name of the
Prime Minister in the UK?
3. Name 2 values of a global
citizen?
4. Name 1 Global Issue that
affects everybody?
Recall Quiz

The Romans believed that direct democracy was not effective
because of the large numbers of people involved in the decision-
making process. Therefore, they decided that fewer people with
more knowledge on how to govern would work better. This led to
representative democracy, where many people vote for a smaller
number of people to represent them. These elected
representatives then make decisions for an entire group, such as a
country. If the people do not like the decisions made by their
representatives, the representatives can be voted out at the next
election.
Many countries use this system. The UK, India, the USA, Australia
and much of the European Union are all representative
democracies.
Representative Democracy

1. What is democracy?
2. What is the difference between
direct and representative
democracy?
3. How do the European countries of
Norway and Switzerland promote
the key features of democracy?
4. Do you think that direct
democracy would work well in all
countries? Explain your answer.
Recall Quiz

‘Direct democracy is much more
effective than representative
democracy.’
Do you agree with this statement?
Give reasons for your opinion, showing
that you have considered different
points of view.
Discussion

Representative
and Direct
Democracy

What is Representative
Democracy?
Representative democracies now use elections to choose those men
and women who will represent all citizens.
Representatives in the UK Parliament are known as Members of
Parliament (MPs.) They are elected by those UK citizens who have the
right to vote.
At first most candidates were popular or important people in their
communities. As populations grew and communications improved,
candidates with similar views formed political parties.
This made it easier for voters to decide who to vote for. Voters may
not have met the parliamentary candidates standing for election in
their constituency, but they can decide which political party they
prefer and vote for the candidate representing that party.

A system of decision-making in which all electors have the right to
vote on the most important issues.
A form of government in which policies and laws are decided by a
majority of all those eligible rather than by a body of elected
representatives.
What is Direct Democracy?

5 min to think and write your answers.
What is the difference between
a representative and a direct
democracy?

Representative Democracy: In a representative democracy, also
known as an indirect democracy, citizens elect representatives who
make decisions on their behalf. These elected officials, such as
members of parliament or congress, represent the interests and
viewpoints of the citizens in the decision-making process. The
representatives are responsible for enacting laws, formulating
policies, and representing the concerns of their constituents. The
citizens exercise their democratic rights through voting in elections to
choose their representatives.
democracy?

Direct Democracy: In a direct democracy, individuals participate
directly in decision-making processes and policy formulation. This
form of democracy allows citizens to have a direct say in the
governance and legislation of the country. In a direct democracy,
citizens are actively involved in voting on laws, policies, and other
important matters. This can be done through referendums, public
assemblies, or town hall meetings. Direct democracies aim to involve
as many citizens as possible in decision-making and prioritize the
participation and engagement of the people.
democracy?

In summary, the key difference between representative democracy
and direct democracy lies in the level of citizen involvement in
decision-making processes. Representative democracy relies on
elected officials who act on behalf of the citizens, while direct
democracy involves direct participation of citizens in making
decisions.
democracy?

. To establish the different
forms of Democracy and
to understand the
strengths and
weaknesses
Learner Objective

1. What is a constituency?
2. What does the terms Demos
and Kratos mean?
3. What year did democracy
start?
Recall Quiz

Democracy:
Strengths and
weaknesses

SUBJECT VOCABULARY
Bill:
suggestion for a new law. Bills are discussed before being
voted on and either passed into law or rejected.
Sovereignty:
to have supreme power or authority.
Justice system:
a system of laws to judge people accused of crimes in
court.

In July 2020, the Greek government passed a bill to stop
public protests from disrupting traffic and commercial
activities. Critics of the bill, such as the previous prime
minister, Alexis Tsiparas, accused the government of
forcing policing to restrict citizens’ right to protest. The
new bill led to mass outrage, with 10,000 protesters
gathering in Athens.
GREECE SAYS ‘NO MORE PROTESTS’

In June 2016, the UK electorate voted in a referendum to leave
the European Union, which it had been part of since 1973. The
referendum divided many people, politicians and voters across
the UK. 52% of the electorate voted to leave whilst 48% voted to
remain.
It was argued that this referendum would give the UK more
sovereignty and power within its own borders. However, some
people who voted to remain argue that they have been stripped
of their European identity, rights and freedoms.
UK ‘BREXIT’ VOTE

In January 2020, Poland's parliament passed a law allowing the
government to fine or remove any judges that were opposed to
legal system reforms, despite opposition from the EU. The law
allows the government to discipline judges who speak out
against changes that the ruling party made to the legal system.
There were protests in cities across the country, but the Law and
Justice party say that the law is needed to control the justice
system.
VOTES IN POLAND

Comparing these examples from Greece, the
UK and Poland, answer the following
questions.
1. To what extent do a government’s actions impact
on citizens’ rights?
2. What impacts do minorities face when the
majority always wins? Are minority views always
taken into account during law-making?
3. Do you think democracy is always effective?
Why/Why not? ‘Direct democracy is much more
effective than representative democracy.’
Discussion

Strengths Weaknesses
Make this table in your notebook
Democracy

Organize these boxes into your
table:
It is very expensive to run,
campaigns, voting
systems. It will cost the tax
payers millions of $.
A democracy enables people to
stand up for what they believe. It
gives them a chance to express
their unique perspectives and
opinions in a safe environment.
It requires the public to be well
informed and educated on
political systems, which a lot
are not so they may not make
an intelligent decision.
Within a democracy, every vote is
weighted with the same value. It
doesn’t matter where you live, if
you’re mean, or if you’re the nicest
person who has ever lived
It creates a herd mentality
and social divide, friendships
and social circles can derive
from which political party they
support.
People within a democracy are
given the opportunity to be
whatever they wish to be. By
allowing people to pursue their
passions, the GDP ($) of a nation
is usually higher.
It encourages personal
involvement, they have the
choice and freedom to vote.
It focusses on the majority,
smaller groups are not
represented and they will feel
their country does not listen to
them.

Democracy is a system of government where the people have a say on how the
society functions. The people who vote are known as the electorate, and they will
vote for a particular political party to represent their views. This is
a key strength of representative democracy. For example, in the USA, the two
main rival parties are the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. During
presidential elections, the party leader who gets the most electoral votes will
come into power and will then make decisions based on the views of the people. In
Switzerland, citizens are given the chance to directly change a law rather than
depend on representatives to decide for them. This is a key strength of direct
democracy. Whilst democracy shows strengths such as equality, freedom and
citizen power, there are also many weaknesses.
THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF
DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRACY

With representative democracy, everyone can vote on who leads their country.
The people who lead have the knowledge and skills to make decisions effectively.
However, these leaders might not always act in the best interests of citizens. They
act for the majority of people, so minorities could be ignored. They might also
break citizens’ trust if there is corruption (dishonest behaviour by people in
power).
With direct democracy, every vote is equal and there is more open
communication with the public. However, if a bad decision is made, it is
difficult to identify who is responsible. It can also be difficult to have direct
democracy in large communities.
DEMOCRACY

1. Work out which of the strengths and
weaknesses from the table apply in
each case.
2. Discuss the similarities and differences
between a
representative democracy and a direct
democracy.
3. Why is it unfair that minorities might not
be represented in a democracy?
4. Think of two additional points to add to
the table for the strengths
and weaknesses of both a representative
and a direct democracy.
Recall Quiz

The rule of law
Law should apply equally to everyone- even to
politicians, judges, the police and the very
wealthy.
Equal Opportunity
Everyone should have the same chances to
participate in decision-making, to protest
and to become a representative.
Personal Freedom
Everyone should be free to put forward their ideas, stand
for election and criticize the government. Artists,
playwrights and writers should be free to express new
ideas and criticize established thinking. A free media
should help to communicate ideas, expose any political
corruption and hold elected representatives to account.
Tolerance and
respect for diversity
A person’s race, gender, culture, religion,
political beliefs should be respected by
everyone else. All people’s opinions and
ideas should be listened to as long as
they don’t encourage hatred or
discrimination against others.
For democracy to work it must
be supported by four key values

‘The disadvantages of
democracy are so great we
should avoid using it.’
How far do you agree with this statement?
Give reasons for your opinion, showing you
have considered different points of view.
Discussion

• Note down 3 things you have
learned today.
• Note down your questions.
What have you
learned today?

Our class material and HW files
are going to be sent today on
Google Classroom.
Remember: They are not for
sharing.
Have a nice day.
See you in the next session.

IGCSE - Global Citizenship - Democracy.pdf

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