1.1: Defining Government

DEFINING GOVERNMENT POLITICS referring to the activities of politicians, the system of government, and the issues of the day. key: conflict and resolution. IDEOLOGY a collection of ideas proposing social change, including a blueprint for future society based on principles. In 2015, the Labour party had a conflict in ideology. One side wanted to carry on Ed Miliband's more moderate, but arguably failing, social democracy. However, the other side wanted to represent Jeremy Corbyn's more radical socialism. Corbyn's side won in general, except that the norm is still that social change is sought in a moderate (not fundamentally radical) way. INTEREST a group seeking to achieve improvement in its own circumstances (improving its own situation). Trade unions who wanted the circumstances of workers to improve got involved in helping to launch the Labour Party in the early twentieth century.

• activities to further aims include:
  • public demonstrations
  • internet / media campaigns
  • trying to influence Parliament

Margaret Thatcher became C PM in 1979, and led the country through a societal transformation in the 80s with financial and business interests growing stronger and trade unions weaker. In 1945-1997, over 70% of the electorate always voted, but in 2001 only 59%. This percentage has gone up slightly each election since until it is almost back to 70 in 2017. However, it is still a cause for concern that the UK democracy is not healthy. GOVERNMENTS MANAGING CONFLICT

• passing a law
• using police / law-enforcement agencies
• controlling local government
• power / influence over media
• ability to define and shape political agenda

Some…