This document discusses political participation in the UK. It outlines different forms of political participation such as voting, joining political parties, and participating in demonstrations. Younger people are more likely to engage in newer forms of participation like pressure groups, while older individuals typically participate through voting and party membership. Women are underrepresented among politicians but equally participate in other ways. Traditional participation through parties and unions has declined as issues are addressed more globally and new social and environmental movements have emerged.

1. Political participation
• Forms of political participation
• Who participates most?
• Changes in participation
• Explanations of changes in participation

2. Political participation
Starter activity
1. Think of at least five ways in which people
can participate in politics and note them
down.
2. How might each of the following affect how
politically active a person is?
 Age
 Social class
 Gender

3. Forms of political participation
•Acting as a political representative eg MP or councillor
•Standing in elections or campaigning for party
•Membership of political party or pressure group
•Attending political meetings
•Fundraising
•Taking part in demonstrations
•Contacting media about political issue
•Signing petitions
•Voting
•Writing to MPs/government department
•Using media or internet to find out about political issues

4. Who participates most?
Age
Young people (18-24) are least
likely to vote and join political
parties but are more likely to
join pressure groups and
demonstrations
Social class
Higher social classes tend to be
more politically active
How could we explain these
patterns?

5. Who participates most?
Gender
Fewer women become MPs and
councillors but overall women
are as involved as men in other
aspects of politics.
The largest number of
female MPs ever were
elected in 1997 mainly
to Labour seats but
women are still under-
represented in
Parliament.
Currently there are 126
female MPs out of 646.
Suggest reasons why
fewer women become
MPs and councillors.

6. Changes in participation
• Membership of
political parties
• Membership of
trade unions
• Voting in elections
Traditional forms of political participation are
declining – these include:
The power and influence of trade unions
has declined since the miners’ strike of
1984-85

7. Changes in participation
• Participation in single
interest pressure group
campaigns, eg against
closing hospitals,
building airports
• Involvement in new
social movements eg
anti-capitalist
movement, animal rights
movement
Other forms of participation have, however,
increased – these include:
A protest by the Countryside Alliance
– most of those taking part were
from rural areas and had never
previously taken part in a
demonstration

8. Explanations of changes in
participation
• Globalisation means
some issues are dealt
with at international
level eg Greenpeace
campaigns to protect
environment
• Emergence of new
forms of politics in
post-industrial society
- traditional parties
and trade unions seen
as less relevant

9. Explanations of changes in
participation
• Class seen as less
important in politics and
issues relating to the
environment, human and
animal rights seen as
more relevant
• Voting seen as making
little difference so some
people turn to
unconventional forms of
political action