Direct Democracy (strengths)

• Only small scale, ideal but may not be functional in practice.
• Need for experts in fields who can make informed decisions and have practical long term view for the whole of society.
• Public could soon tire of the effort and commitment to the process and more content with limited involvement, Current suggestions of voter fatigue under the current democractic system.
• Constant reference and involvement ofthe public may create public instability and polarise opinion could potentially develop into a crisis.

• Practical democracy: operates on large scale.
• Governments by experts: decision making in hands of politicians who have better education and greater expertise than mass of people.
• Divisions of labour in politics: more efficient because ordinary citizens relivied of day-to-day decision making.
• Political stability: through elections and free speech. Certain level of apathy is helpful in maintaining politicla stability.
• Pragmatic and evolves in a range of areas.

• Form of indirect democracy, not people rule in absolute/full sense.
• Participation levels low - legitamcy of system?
• Problems have emerged with political aprties who influence the politicla process as they offer narrow electoral choice and elite rule - 50% of places at Oxford are reserved for people from Eton).

• Genuine democracy: only pure form of democracy - people only obey laws they make themselves; true view of what people want
• Personal development: better informed and knowledgable citizens.</li>
• End of professional politics:reduces/removes publics dependence on self-serving professional politicians.
• Legitimate government: ensures rule is legitimate; people more likely to accept decisions they have made themselves.
• People more involved in commounity and state.

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