The Democratic Deficit
The gap between how democracy should work in theory and how it works in practice, including low turnout, unelected institutions, and unequal access to political influence.
Real World
In the 2015 UK general election, UKIP won 12.6% of the national vote but only 1 seat in Parliament, while the SNP won 56 seats with 4.7% of the vote — a stark illustration of how FPTP produces unequal representation.
Exam Focus
When asked to 'assess' the democratic deficit, always weigh counter-arguments (e.g. stable government, clear mandates) to reach a balanced judgement.
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