Comparative analysis of political participation Essay

The change in policy-making meshing is currently a hotly discussed topic. Low turn out(a)s in the 2001 and 2005 UK general elections, on with falling rank and file of governmental parties have led semipolitical placements to impinge on the reasons for this (BBC, 2006). One method is to use proportional abstract. This is close to comparing aspects of countries political systems (Dobson, 2005, p.140) to try to understand why a phenomenon occurs in angiotensin-converting enzyme untaught or time period but non in an different. This analyze looks at 2 factors, which evidence suggests affect political participation sexual application and socio-economic standing. It examines whether proportional analysis is a useful incision for studying this topic. It concludes that whilst comparative government activity is helpful at identifying participation trends, it is too simplistic to interpret practical answers and that further studies are required to reveal useful outcomes.H istorically, formulaic ways for citizens to participate in politics were by voting in elections and joining a political party. The decline in these activities has led to a greater extent or little to believe there is political apathy in Britain. How constantly capital of Montana Kennedy (cited by White, 2006, p.4), chair of the boot which produced the major power to the People report (2006) denies this, motto that condescension no longer wanting to join a party or get postulated in formal politics, people instead curb direct action by raising m aney for charities, joining hold out marches, signing petitions and undertaking volunteering work within their communities. The fortuity for differing definitions of key outcomes is a dis payoff for comparative analysis.A study that defines participation in hurt much(prenominal) as voting or contacting politicians depart conclude that political participation has decreased and supports the political apathy theory, whereas, a stud y such as the Citizen size up (2001), using unorthodox definitions, such as membership of political organisations (anything from trade unions to community groups) or fiscally supporting militant organisations, find that participation is still strong. The Citizen Audit found that approximately 40 per cent of adults belong to at least one political organisation (Smith, 2005, p.83) and there is little evidence of widespread apathy (Smith, 2005, p.84). When trying to hallow policies to increase political participation, these conflicting results are unhelpful.Following a 2002 European Union directive, which required member states to promote equality in telling to sexual orientation, age and religion in addition to race, gender and hinderance (Squires, 2005, p.119), European governments began to initiate changes to the way women were re defended within parliament. Governments did not unavoidably choose the same initiatives and comparative analysis is useful to identify apace th e comparative success of each governments initiatives. (See evade 1, Appendix). governmental systems are hugely colonial and as Dobson states Each day well-nigh of us find ourselves describing, explaining and predicting something. Comparative politics is no more than, then, than carrying out these apparently basic human activities in the context of what we are avocation political worlds (Dobson, 2005, p.143). Comparing what happens in different countries or different political systems enables the analysis of differences and similarities and thereby, identifying factors that can be applied chiefly to simplify complex systems. For example Table 1 shows that Nordic countries have significantly high levels of female participation in comparison to the UK.A policy maker, facial expression to increase participation by UK women, can then look at why there is such a large disparity surrounded by the two countries and whether there is something the UK could learn from Nordic policy. This illustrates an another(prenominal)(prenominal) service of comparative study it gives opportunity to expand ones knowledge of political worlds. For comparison there must be at least two things to compare which must be evidently different. In political comparison, this is oftentimes two different countries and even if one is ones own, the other will not be and if we assume that knowledge of others is a requisite for finding our way around, and managing, a globalizing world, then comparative politics seems to be of increasing practical importance (Dobson, 2005, p.143).Expanding ones knowledge is generally auspicious and simplifying complex  instruction is usually advantageous although over diminution is a seek. Table 2 shows the same information as table 1 but for the elections that were held closest to the time of the aforementioned EU directive. variant 1 shows the percentage point difference between both elections. victimisation this information, that same policy mak er may feel that focussing on Frances policies would be of much greater value than that of the Nordic countries as, in exclusively 10 years, France has almost doubled the amount of women who hold parliamentary seats.Comparing and ranking countries can be useful but, as illustrated here, it is only part of a story and great care must be taken when interpreting comparative data. Oversimplification is a distinct risk of comparative analysis. It is possible to mitigate the risk by undertaking more study, producing more data and a more sophisticated and spoted analysis to guide forecasting or policy change. It is important that one considers this strength issue when working with conclusions back offn from comparative analysis.In 2005 the Electoral Commission produced a research report, Social Exclusion and Political Engagement. Its aim was to search why those experiencing social injury tend to also be the most politically excluded in society. (Electoral Commission, 2005) Looking a t the aim of this report highlights an advantage of using comparative politics but also a disadvantage. The advantage is that it allows testing of hypotheses in this case, those who experience social disadvantage are more presumable to be politically excluded. By comparing different circumstances, one can find out what factors affect the political situation in a country, giving an idea as to what particular social/financial or other conditions might give rise to say, reform or revolution in the future. The possibility to predict outcomes is especially important for politicians the possibility of knowing that under certain social conditions, policy X will produce outcome Y (Dobson, 2005, p.144) allows them to make informed policy decisions.The disadvantage is that in research, subjectivity and objectivity can sometimes be lost. Baxter, (cited by Dobson, 2005, p.146) points out Research is not a wholly objective activity carried out by detached scientists. It is a social activity st rongly affected by the researchers own motivations and values. In this case, the researcher(s) has(ve) already taken on the axiom that those with social disadvantages are politically excluded. This does not necessarily mean that conclusions drawn by social scientists are bootless it just means that it is important that anyone working with these conclusions is aware that they might be contaminated by their comparative scientists own motivations and values (Dobson, 2005, p.154).The report drew unneurotic much information on the subject and found that the working material body (C2DEs) were 21 percentage points less likely to vote than the middle anatomy (ABC1), 60% to 41%. It also found ABC1s twice as likely as C2DEs to take advantage of the opportunity to contact their elected representatives two-thirds of those who present their views to their councillors or MPs are ABC1s Political activism is higher among ABC1s than C2DEs (23% as compared to 7%). Across a range of different activities which could still be defined as political, there is a correlation with class and income those in the lowest social class, the poorest in society and the less educated were less likely to be politically active than those who are in a higher social class (Electoral Commission, 2005, p.9).This gives a lot of interesting information and seems to make it clear that there is a correlation between social class and political participation but then it could be argued that it does not really say anything useful. It illustrates a difference but it does not give any reason for this difference. It does not give any principles that one could draw from the comparisons to enable one to make wider or more generalised conclusions about what would lessen the gap. Anyone using the data runs the risk of putting their own commentary on the results, as stated by Lewis (cited in Dobson, 2005, p.157) the development of the comparatives tools seems to involve the interpretation of political real ity rather than its simple and problem-free observation. The other difficulty with this is that people interpret things in different ways and one persons interpretation of these results might not be anothers. This runs the risk of further confusion rather than clarifying issues.To conclude, Dobson asks Whether, despite their peculiarities, we can build theories for comparing political worlds that will enable us to offer general truths about them. Or are we only ever able to tell stories about them stories rich in specific detail but devoid of generalizable truths? (Dobson, 2005, p.140). Comparative analysis is a key tool in identifying trends in participation. It also allows for the testing of hypothesis and for simplification of complicate data, with the possibility of expanding ones knowledge all notable advantages. However, the disadvantages of contamination and misinterpretation along with the possibility for over simplification reveal crucial limitations, meaning that com parative analysis offers little in the way of definitive predictions about or practical answers which could influence political participation.ReferencesBBC, 2006. Political system faces meltdown. BBC UK Politics. operational at http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4753876.stm Accessed 3 December, 2014.Electoral Commission, 2005. Available at http//www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/63835/Social-exclusion-and-political-engagement.pdf Accessed 4 December, 2014.Dobson, A., Story telling and theory building comparing political worlds. In Lewis, P ed. 2005. Exploring Political Worlds. Milton Keynes, The Open UniversitySmith, M., Taking part in politics. In Lewis, P ed. 2005. Exploring Political Worlds. Milton Keynes, The Open UniversitySquires, J., Common citizenship and plural identities the politics of social difference. In Lewis, P ed. 2005. Exploring Political Worlds. Milton Keynes, The Open UniversityWhite, I., Power Inquiry, 2006. Power to the People the r eport of Power, an Independent Inquiry into Britains Democracy. Commons library Standard Note, Power to the People the report of Power, an Independent Inquiry into Britains Democracy. Commons Library Standard Note. Available at http//www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN03948/power-to-the-people-the-report-of-power-an-independent-inquiry-into-britains-democracy Accessed 3 December, 2014.Whiteley, P.F., Pattie, C. and Seyd, P., Citizen Audit of Great Britain, 2000-2001 computer file. Colchester, Essex UK Data Archive distributor, March 2005. SN 5099, http//dx.doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-5099-1