British Democracy: Its Restoration and ExtensionIndustrial Systems Research, 2013 M08 9 British Democracy: Its Restoration and Extension Modern parliamentary democracy first developed in Great Britain. Britons also played a major role in spreading democracy around the world – for example, through the Commonwealth. However, at the start of the 21st century, Britain itself was no longer a independent democratic country. As part of the European Union bloc, unelected and immovable foreign authorities determined a large part of its laws, policies, and taxes. Domestically meanwhile, extra-parliamentary bureaucratic lawmaking, curbs on local autonomy, moves from direct to indirect representation, and anti-competitive restrictions on political funding and advertising had diminished democracy. This book provides a detailed account of the main political independence and constitutional reform requirements for restoring and extending democracy in present-day Britain. Coverage: 1. Restoring and extending British democracy: major requirements 2. National political independence and democracy: withdrawal from the European Union 3. The reform of parliament and central government 4. Judicial independence and the rule of law 5. The legal protection of democracy and freedom: the case for a new written constitution and bill of rights 6. Restoring local democracy 7. Electoral system reform: increasing competition and voter choice and influence |
