Rethinking the Boundaries of Political Representation

Abstract

A MORI poll to accompany the 75th anniversary of women’s rights showed that 76 per cent of women were not involved in any form of party political activity. Alienation from the political system is widespread throughout society, but particularly deep amongst specific social groups. Research indicates that the young, the black and the female are significantly less likely to be politically active than the middle-aged, the white and the male: ‘For many young people in Britain today politics has become something of a dirty word . . . In effect, an entire generation has opted out of party politics’ (Wilkinson and Mulgan 1995, p.98) The fact that it is the more oppressed groups within society that feel most alienated from the political process signals that the liberal democratic rhetoric of political equality is yet to become a reality. Given that an increasing number of people fail to see any direct link between the government and government institutions and their own lives, what form of representative structures might inspire more active support and participation?

Blair … took over leadership of the Labour Party with a promise to ‘reconnect politics’ by making it more inclusive and authentic. (Wilkinson and Diplock, 1996, p. 5)