Author Archive: Democratic Audit UK
Promoting English learning is an important first step, but much more needs to be done to support integration
Phoebe Griffith argues that David Cameron’s push to support language tuition in migrant communities is laudable but partial: many other positive steps could be taken to ‘level the playing field’ for migrants and, in so doing, support their integration and resilience. Similar PostsPoliticians haven’t been honest with the public about immigration. They still aren’tThe politics […]
Negotiations about the fiscal framework for the Scotland Bill are becoming high political drama
The Scottish government has set a St Valentine’s Day deadline for the end of negotiations over the fiscal framework for the Scotland Bill but the two sides are struggling to read a deal. In this article, Jim Gallagher discusses the sticking points, and writes that the fiscal framework is of constitutional significance because it sets […]
The EU policymaking paradox: Citizen participation is a must, but the shaping of policies has become too technical
Criticism related to the EU’s democratic deficit became more prominent in the aftermath of the financial crisis. According to Firat Cengiz, it is crucial for European citizens to become more involved in policymaking processes if this deficit is to be overcome. However, she points at an inherent problem affecting areas such as competition policy, where the increasing prominence […]
If the UK votes for Brexit continuing EU member states will have predominant power in exit negotiations
The EU referendum could be held as early as June so clarity is needed about what will happen in the event of a vote to leave. In this post Alan Renwick explains Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which sets out the procedure for leaving the EU. Under it a second in/out referendum of the type floated by […]
How democratic are the UK’s two proportional electoral systems?
As part of the 2017 Audit of UK Democracy, Patrick Dunleavy and DA staff examine the two proportional (PR) electoral systems now used in the UK, albeit for smaller elections – Scottish and Northern Irish local government, and choosing Members of the European Parliament (although the latter will come to an end when Britain leaves […]
To fight the slow pace of gender equality in the workplace, we need to attack the root cause
Caroline Turner writes that beneath the many forms of unconscious bias is one root cause – the cultural preference for masculine over feminine ways of doing and being. In order to achieve and sustain gender diversity, she argues it is necessary to address this root cause and adapt mindsets at the very deepest level. Similar PostsBook Review: What […]
With the diagnosis confirmed pollsters can start working on their own solutions to the 2015 polling error
The preliminary findings of the inquiry into 2015 pre-election polls were presented yesterday at the Royal Statistical Society. As well as pinpointing unrepresentative samples as the most viable explanation, the panel took the time to emphasise the factors that did not contribute to the error. Here, Anthony Wells offers an overview of the key points made in […]
Book Review: Contentious Politics by Charles Tilly and Sidney Tarrow
In the second edition of Contentious Politics, Charles Tilly and Sidney Tarrow explore various forms of political contention through a number of case studies including those on the Occupy movement, revolutions in the Middle East and the campaign for free and fair elections in Hong Kong. Sophie Long praises this volume for the utility of its conceptual framework, which underscores […]
The upsizing of public deliberation has downsized citizen expectations
Citizens are increasingly being asked to weigh in on decision-making processes, creating a strong sense they are being consulted over big decisions. But Caroline W. Lee argues that although public deliberation has indeed shifted political culture in meaningful ways, its long-term effects are more demobilising than liberating. She writes that if empowerment is just about […]
Amplified messages: How hashtag activism and Twitter diplomacy converged at #ThisIsACoup – and won
Online activism is a frequently debated topic amongst journalists and researchers alike. What effect can a popular Twitter hashtag really have in achieving political or social change? Wasim Ahmed looks in depth at last year’s heavily tweeted #ThisIsACoup hashtag. While concrete outcomes may still be indeterminate, it is clear social media is now a rich space for […]
Democratic Audit's core funding is provided by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Additional funding is provided by the London School of Economics.