As a historian specialising in British politics during the 20th century, I am writing in order to submit evidence to the Speaker's Conference.

  Over the last few years I have conducted research, which I hope will be of interest to the conference in providing a historical context for the issues under scrutiny, about levels of participation and interest in politics. My findings appeared in December 2008 in a paper entitled Two Cheers for Democracy[9] on the website of the organisation History & Policy.[10] The main points made in the paper can be summarised as follows:

— Compared to some other western nation-states, British democracy since the end of the First World War has been stable but not vibrant in character, with low levels of citizen participation.

— In terms of style and context, democratic politics have changed dramatically through franchise extensions, the growth of the media and the appearance of new forms of political protest, but the proportion of citizens taking an active role in political life—beyond voting at elections—has rarely risen above 10%.

— Furthermore, willingness and ability to participate in politics has frequently been determined by factors relating to class, gender, ethnicity and race.

— Continuity has deep historical roots in the long, drawn-out process of gradual democratisation which took place between 1832 and 1928 in a largely peaceful manner. This ensured that democracy as political creed lacked both passionate advocates and hostile critics, unlike other states with different historical trajectories.

— Contemporary debate about a so-called "crisis" in democracy must be set in historical context with the recognition that Britain has never had a strong tradition of "active citizenship". This fact, however, has not damaged the legitimacy of her democratic institutions, which remains secure.

10   www.historyandpolicy.org Back