The following questions were put by Standard Grade students

1
The following questions were put by Standard
Grade students to the BBC who supplied the
answers. These questions and answers were put
into a slide presentation by Mr. K. Miller
Principal Teacher of Modern Studies, Shawlands
Academy. Please Press KEY F5 to begin. Then
click the mouse to continue. Press the escape
button when you wish to quit.
2
What help do the elderly receive from local
government and the national government?

• Central government provides
• Financial support - in the form of the state Old
  Age Pension and benefits such as Housing Benefit
• Health Care - through free treatment and
  prescriptions provided by the National Health
  Service.

• Local government provides
• Housing Needs - by providing specialised housing,
  where necessary, for older people such as
  sheltered housing
• Care Needs - organised through the Social Work or
  Social Services Department. Services include
  things like home helps, meals on wheels etc.
• Financial Needs - local government may offer
  reduced prices for services such as leisure
  centres, and subsidised transport on buses and
  trains

3
Why do old people need more care?
As people get older they are less able to meet
all their own needs. These needs include housing,
health, money and personal care. Eventually, if
a person lives to an old age, they may become
totally dependent on other people. They can end
their life with similar needs to those of a young
child - they need to be fed, dressed, taken to
the toilet, washed etc. Many old people have none
of these problems, but some do. Older people who
suffer from Alzheimers Disease have the added
difficulty of memory loss. This can affect their
behaviour and lead to dangerous situations - for
example, if they forget they have turned the
cooker on, or that they have left taps
running. Care for older people can be provided by
different agencies. In some cases the family
provides the care, in some cases the local
council will provide a home help, and in extreme
cases residential care will be required with the
old person being looked after 24 hours a day.
4
How do each of the sectors meet the housing needs
of the elderly?
Local authorities have a duty to provide housing
for all people. In the case of elderly people
this is done through sheltered housing and making
changes to existing homes so that older people
can live there easily. Local authorities also
provide care homes for people who cannot look
after themselves. The national government,
through the NHS, provides homes and hospitals for
older people with medical needs as well as
housing needs.

The Private sector has become involved in housing
the elderly. Building companies have realised
that there is good money to be made by building
flats and houses designed as retirement flats.
The voluntary sector now works closely with Local
Councils. Most Housing Associations began as
voluntary organisations, providing specialised
housing at affordable prices. Now local
authorities and housing associations work hand in
hand to provide housing. Other voluntary
organisations such as the Salvation Army run
emergency hostels for homeless people, although
most are not elderly.
5
How has new technology improved the quality of
life for the elderly?
Entry-phone systems / cctv systems - make elderly
people feel more secure in their homes
TV remote control devices/cordless phones - good
for people who have difficulty moving around
Entry-phone systems / cctv systems - make elderly
people feel more secure in their homes
Sensor-pads - placed under the carpets, these
detect if a person is moving around. If they do
not register a person for some time, then a
check can be carried .
Bath lifts / seats to help them in and out of the
bath when they are immobile
Chair lifts to help them up and down stairs
6
Why do women still earn less than men in the year
2001?
It is important to understand that men and women
do not get paid different amounts for doing the
same job. It is wrong, for example, to think that
a female teacher gets paid less than a man. There
are laws that make this illegal. However, more
women work in low-paid jobs than men, meaning
that the average income for all women is around
20 less than the average income for all men.
This is despite the fact that women now tend to
achieve better exam results! Reasons why women
are trapped in low-paid jobs include Many
want part-time jobs so that they can combine
looking after a family with working.90 of lone
parents are female, so they have the
responsibility of looking after children. This
limits the type of job they can go for. Some
women may find it hard to get promoted because
they have had a career break to have a family -
they have less continuous employment than
men. Although it is illegal, sex discrimination
does still happen. Top jobs may be held down by
men who then discriminate against women. This is
much less common than used to be the case.
Virtually everyone now recognises that women
should be treated equally to men.
7
In what ways do the government meet the needs of
the unemployed?
To answer this question you must first establish
what the needs of the unemployed are. The two
basic needs are Money to survive and a job.
The government provides money to live on through
the benefits system. People who have been
unemployed for a long time, or who have never had
a job, do not get paid very much in benefits. The
amount is calculated to be enough to meet their
basic needs with little to spare. People who have
had a job and are now short term unemployed get
paid more.
The government does various things to help
unemployed people find a job. They try to make
more jobs available by attracting foreign
businesses and encouraging existing businesses to
expand.
They try to make people more suitable for jobs
through training schemes and education packages.
This is especially important for older unemployed
people who may lack the skills needed in the
modern jobs market. Training schemes exist for
all age groups. Services such as Job Clubs and
practice interviews may also help.
The government also helps to publicise job
vacancies through Job Centres
8
What Is Means-testing?
Means-testing is when the government assesses how
well-off someone is before giving them money.
Means-tested benefits only go to people who
show that they need the money - people with large
amounts of savings or a good income will not get
means-tested benefits. Universal benefits
(e.g. Family Allowance) are paid to all families,
regardless of how well off they are.
9
In what ways does the government try to meet the
needs of unemployed people in Scotland?
The government tries to meet the needs of
unemployed people in the following ways
Financial - they are paid money each week to
help meet their basic living costs. People who
are unemployed will also get free prescriptions,
free school meals for their children etc.
Employment - the government tries to encourage
businesses to create new jobs in Scotland. This
can be done by attracting foreign companies to
Scotland, or by helping existing companies to
grow and employ more people.Training - the
government provides training courses for people
who need new skills to help them get a job in the
modern economy.
10
Why do Disabled People, Ethnic Minorities and
Older workers have difficulties finding a job?
Disabled People Perception (wrong!) that they
may be incapable of doing the job the environment
in the workplace may not have enough space for
their wheelchair if they have one Ethnic
Minorities Although racism is illegal, racist
beliefs do still exist in the minds of some
people Education - statistically, ethnic
minority groups leave school with poorer
qualifications Language difficulties Older
Workers May need more training Expect higher
wages than young workers Thought to be less
flexible and willing to change than younger
workers
11
Describe two ways in which the policies of the
Labour Government help the unemployed and people
in low paid work.
This question specifically mentions the Labour
government which means that you must try to
include up-to-date examples. The question also
mentions two particular groups - the unemployed
and people in low paid work. Try to mention both
in your answer. The Labour government of Tony
Blair was elected in 97 and has tried various
policies to help these groups. To help the
unemployed, they introduced the New Deal. This
policy aims to get people back into work, by
offering them new opportunities. Labour has also
tried hard to attract foreign companies to invest
in Britain, creating jobs here. For people in
low-paid work, the single biggest project
introduced by the Labour government has been the
National Minimum Wage. This means that no
full-time worker over the age of 21 can be paid
less than the stated minimum figure, designed to
keep them out of poverty.
12
What arguments can be put forward for and against
the view that the Government should give less
help to single parent families, the elderly and
the long-term unemployed?
The main argument to support this view is that
tax payers money is being used to support people
who could be supported in other ways.
Disadvantaged groups should either look after
themselves or be supported by private
organisations and/or charities.
People who hold this view tend to think that it
is people's own fault that they are unemployed,
single parents or elderly and that they should
have done something to look after themselves.
The opposite view, which is more left wing is
that the government has a responsibility to look
after all people in the country. Better-off
people should accept that they will pay taxes to
help support people who are disadvantaged in some
way. This is known as the redistribution of
wealth.
13
For what reasons has new technology led to
greater job opportunities for some workers than
for others?
New technology can cause job opportunities to be
created in several ways Jobs manufacturing new
technology (eg computer factories) Jobs
maintaining new technology (eg service engineers)
Option of home-working for people using e-mail
etc. New technology can also cause jobs to
disappear Some occupations replaced by
machines (eg typists, filing clerks etc.) Jobs
may move to a low-wage economy rather than
staying in Scotland.
14
Explain what proportional representation (PR) is?
Proportional Representation (often shortened to
PR) is the term used to describe certain types of
voting system. These are systems where the
proportion of votes that a party gets in the
country is very similar to the proportion of
seats they get in the Parliament. Some voting
systems are more proportional than others. The
First Past the Post system, used for Westminster
elections, is not proportional. It is NOT an
example of PR.
However, the Additional Member System, used for
elections to the Scottish Parliament, is a form
of PR. The total number of MSPs that each party
has is a close reflection of the number of votes
they received around the country - it is a
proportional system. PR systems all have the
advantaged of making representation more
proportional, but there are also disadvantages
associated with them. For example, it may mean
that the direct link between a constituency and
the Member of Parliament no longer exists. PR can
also lead to extremist parties having a say in
Parliament - they may even hold the balance of
power.
15
In what ways can a person participate in Politics
in the United Kingdom and how can an MP represent
his/her constituents?
People can participate (take part) in politics in
a number of ways. The most basic way is by
voting in elections - for local councils, the
Scottish Parliament, Westminster or the European
Parliament. Some people participate by joining a
political party - they pay money every month to
be a member of the party they support. They may
then participate by actively campaigning for the
party at election times. This includes things
like canvassing, handing out leaflets, putting up
posters and so on. The next stage of
participation is to become a candidate at an
election. People who participate in this way are
trying to become representatives. An MP can
represent his / her constituents in a variety of
ways. Any MP is supposed to represent all the
people of their constituency - not just those who
voted for them. Representing people means putting
forward their views. This can be done by
Writing letters on their behalf - a letter from
an MP carries more weight Asking questions in
Parliament - these can be written or oral
questions Speaking in debates A Private Members
Bill or calling an Adjournment Debate on issues
important to their constituents Getting publicity
through the media for issues of local concern
16
Explain the British system of the Government.
The House of Commons and the House of Lords, both
of which are based at Westminster in London, are
known as Parliament. Scottish people elect
representatives (MPs) to speak up for them in the
House of Commons. The House of Commons is the
main decision-making body for the UK. The House
of Lords is not elected by the people. Lords are
appointed by the major political parties, and
some have inherited their title from previous
generations. The House of Lords can delay and
alter new laws, but it is not as powerful as the
House of Commons. The biggest single party in
the House of Commons usually forms the
government. The leading politicians in the
government party form the Cabinet. The Cabinet is
made up of Ministers, each of whom have
responsibility for a particular policy area. The
Executive is the very top level of government -
the Prime Minister, key Cabinet Ministers and
Advisers. They are regarded as the most powerful
and influential group of politicians in the
country.
17
How does the Scottish Parliament work?

• For the Scottish Parliament you need to know
  about the following
• The process by which MSPs are electedWays in
  which MSPs can represent their constituents.
• This second section means that you need to know
  something about the workings of the Scottish
  Parliament. MSPs can represent their constituents
  in a number of ways, including
• By voting in the Scottish Parliament (voting is
  done electronically)
• By introducing Bills on behalf of their
  constituents (e.g. Tommy Sheridans Bill to
  outlaw warrant sales)
• By speaking in debates
• By asking questions to Ministers
• By taking part in committees.
• Remember that you can be asked about the Scottish
  Parliament and / or the UK Parliament in London.

18
Apart from voting, describe two ways in which
supporters could help a political party during an
election campaign.
There are a number of ways that supporters can
help a political party during an election
campaign. Canvassing - this is when people go
round the doors, or phone people, asking them who
they intend to support. They will try to persuade
people to support their party. Canvassing used to
all be done by door-to-door methods, but
increasingly the telephone is taking
over. Displaying Election Materials - Posters,
Car Stickers etc. Keen supporters will show which
party they support by displaying things like
these in the hope that it will get more publicity
for their party. Leafleting - leaflets will be
put through the doors of everyone who lives in
the constituency. Party supporters will spend
hours going round doing this. Helping on Polling
Day - each party uses supporters to provide lifts
for people from home to polling stations. This is
especially helpful to older people and may
convince them to vote for a particular party.
19
Apart from voting, in what ways can UK people
participate in politics?
Political participation happens at different
levels. Voting is the most basic level of
political participation. Apart from voting,
people can

• Join a Political Party - paying a subscription
  each month shows how much a person supports the
  party and helps them to build up funds for
  election campaigns

• Work for a political party at election times-
  parties need workers to do thing slike putting up
  posters, canvassing, telephone-canvassing etc.
  Only committed party supporters would be involved
  in this

• Becoming a candidate for an election - people can
  participate in politics by putting themselves
  forward as a candidate. If they are successful in
  being elected then they will become a
  representative for other people
• Becoming a representative - as stated above, the
  highest level of political participation is to be
  a successful candidate who represents peoples
  views.

20
What is a democracy?
A democracy is a country where decisions are
taken by the people - the people have power. The
UK is a democracy because the ordinary people
elect representatives to speak for them in
Parliament, and from them the government is
chosen. In a democracy the people have a regular
chance to vote - in the UK this happens at least
every five years. Other features of a democracy
include the right to a fair trial and freedom of
speech. The opposite of democracy is a
dictatorship where all the features listed above
may be lacking. Nazi Germany was a dictatorship
because Hitler banned opposition parties, stopped
freedom of speech and ceased having elections.
21
What is the role local councillors play in
helping their constituents and what do MP's do to
help? Explain the parts they both play in voicing
peoples questions and concerns?
MPs and Local Councillors both do the same sort
of things to represent their people. They both
Hold surgeries to find out about peoples
problemsAsk questions - MPs in Parliament
Councillors usually ask questions to Council
OfficialsLobby on behalf of their constituents,
by writing letters, asking for meetings etc.Vote
according to how they feel their constituents
want (MPs in Parliament, Councillors at Council
Meetings) MPs and Councillors have power over
different topics. People would normally go to
their Councillor with a problem about a local
council service - education, refuse collection,
housing, policing etc. They would go to their MP
with a problem about things controlled directly
by the government. However, if someone feels that
their local councillor is not getting things
done, or cannot get things done, then they may go
to their MP to try and out pressure on the local
council.
22
I don't understand how PR works. Please help me.

• Proportional Representation (PR) is the name
  given to voting systems that ensure that after an
  election the Parliament truly reflects the views
  of the the people.
• Did you know, for example, that in 1974 a Labour
  Government was elected yet Labour got fewer votes
  in the country than the Conservatives?
• Did you know that throughout the 1980s the
  Conservatives had a massive overall majoroity in
  the House of Commons, and could introduce
  whatever policies they liked, yet they got fewer
  than 50 of the votes in the country?
• These things can happen under First Past The
  Post. Under PR if a party gets 40 of the votes
  they should have 40 of the MPs. If they get 4
  of the votes they should get 4 of the MPs.
  There are different ways of running PR,
  including
• National List System
• Single Transferable Vote
• Additional Member System (used for the Scottish
  Parliament)
• Alternative Vote

23
Why should people join a Trade Union and what are
the advantages of joining one?
Trade Unions protect the rights of people in the
workplace. They gain their strength from the fact
that the more workers who join the Union, the
more powerful and influential the Union becomes.
In years gone past Unions fought hard to get
basic rights for workers such as holidays, decent
working conditions, reasonable levels of pay
etc. Nowadays Unions still campaign for these
same things but they are also concerned with
modern employment issues such as gender and
racial equality, health and safety issues (e.g.
repetitive strain injury) and education /
training opportunities. Unions also play the main
role in representing workers during negotiations
for pay rises. Unions have also fought hard to
protect jobs when businesses have been closing
down or making people redundant. Trade Unions
also represent their members if they are accused
of misconduct at work and face disciplinary
action which could lead to sacking. Joining a
Trade Union is a persons individual choice, but
there are many advantages to consider.
24
What are the rights and responsibilities of Trade
Unions like the EIS?
This question is about what a Trade Union can do
to represent its members when jobs are under
threat. All of the actions would apply to any
Trade Union in any type of employment. Trade
Unions will always try to oppose job cuts - they
have the right to attempt to negotiate other ways
of making the savings that the employers are
looking for. Unions have the right to campaign
publicly on behalf of their members to try and
draw media attention to the problem. If job cuts
are impossible to avoid, then Trade Unions will
try to organise alternative employment for the
people affected. They will provide information
about re-training opportunities to try and help
people find alternative jobs. Trade Unions have
the right to take industrial action to try and
save jobs. This could include working-to-rule or
even strike action. However, Trade Unions also
have a responsibility to all their members - if
industrial action was to threaten even more job
losses then they would think hard before
starting. Unions also have the responsibility to
hold a secret ballot of their members before
starting industrial action.
25
What are the rights and responsibilities of
Pressure Groups and Trade Unions?
Pressure Groups - Rights To publicise issuesTo
represent the views of peopleTo take action to
draw attention to issues Pressure Group -
Responsibilities To listen to other opinionsTo
avoid taking actions which are dangerous or
illegalTo be truthful in what they say and the
arguments that they use Trade Unions - Rights To
represent the views of their members and
negotiate on their behalfTo take industrial
actionTo publicise issues which concern their
members Trade Unions - Responsibilities To only
take industrial action after a secret ballotTo
remain within the law at all timesTo act in the
best interests of the majority of their members
26
Why dont many women participate by joining a
Trade Union and what are the advantages/disadvanta
ges of women joining a Trade Union?

• Many of the reasons why fewer women participate
  in Trade Unions are historical in nature. Things
  are changing slowly, with more women joining
  Trade Unions as time passes.
• Unions were strongest in male-dominated
  industries - e.g. railways, iron and steel,
  coal-mining. This made people think that all
  Unions were male-dominated.
• Many women have been part-time workers. This made
  them less likely to join a Union. The membership
  fee represented a bigger chunk of their earnings,
  and they may have felt less need to be in the
  Union anyway.
• Linked to the above, many women in the past
  brought a second income into the household.
  Because this income was less important, they were
  less willing to join Trade Unions.
• Union management structures have always been male
  dominated.
• Union meetings often take place outwith working
  hours. This may be more difficult for women to
  attend if they have family commitments.
• As said above, things are changing and women are
  becoming stronger in Unions. This is linked to
  the decline in old-fashioned male-dominated
  industries and the growth in the number of women
  with full-time jobs. Women should join Trade
  Unions because
• They require protection in the same way as men
• Women may face particular problems of harassment
  and discrimination Part-time and low-paid
  workers may be the first to be sacked at a time
  of recession.

27
Can you give some info on Third World debt e.g.
how it originated?
Many Third World countries owe large sums of
money. These debts can be owed to other countries
(usually wealthier ones like the USA and the UK)
or to organisations such as the World Bank and
the International Monetary Fund. In the past
Third World countries borrowed money for the same
reasons as a person might. They want or need to
buy things that they could not afford.
Consequently they borrow the money, agreeing to
pay it back over a period of time, usually with
interest added. Usually they borrowed money for a
specific purpose. For example, Sudan borrowed
large amounts of money to finance a scheme to
improve cotton production. They expected that the
scheme would be successful and that the profit
generated would help them to pay back the loans
quickly. They were wrong. Other countries
borrowed money to help industrialisation, pay for
infrastructure such as roads, railways and
airports, or to fund expensive schemes such as
power stations and dams. Nowadays some Third
World countries cannot even pay back the interest
that is added to their debts each year, let alone
start to pay back the loan itself.
28
Can you give me a summary about politics of aid
and give examples where recent events have
happened or give me help in finding information
on it?
Knowledge and Understanding questions in the
Politics of Aid section can be based on either of
two concepts - Need and Power. Need questions
are usually based on the needs of African
countries and how they are met. To answer these
you need to know about the work of the United
Nations and its specialised agencies (e.g. FAO,
WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO). You also need to know about
the different types of aid given by the worlds
wealthier countries (Bi-lateral, Multi-lateral,
Tied etc.) Try to use recent examples in your
answers. If you are writing about famine then
Sudan is a good example to use. If you are
writing about conflict, then Sierra Leone would
be an excellent example. Remember that needs can
be met in different ways - providing
peace-keeping forces meets the needs of some
parts of Africa. Providing emergency food or
medical supplies meets the needs of other parts
of Africa. Power questions are about the links
that exist between rich and poor countries.
Richer countries have power over poorer countries
in a number of ways. The poorer countries depend
on the rich countries to buy their products,
provide them with aid and so on. It would be a
good idea to think about the advantages for rich
countries of their links with African countries.
This can include things like low prices for food
and raw materials (trade), military bases, debt
repayments etc.
29
My Modern Studies teacher told me that I should
learn a lot of facts about a 3rd World Country
like Sudan, but I have a terrible memory and
would like to know if there are any key facts and
figures that I should be learning such as
literacy age?
It is always useful to learn some statistics
about Third World countries. Sudan is a good
example. Here are some vital statistics
Population 27 million Growth Rate 2.4 per
year Average number of children per woman
4.7 Life Expectancy 54 years Infant
Mortality 73 per 1000 Literacy 46(male
58, Female 35)
30
What are the social, economic and political
reasons for giving aid to a Developing
country? When you get a question that asks for
social, economic and political reasons, then you
should deal with each of these three things
separately.

• Social Reasons
• Genuine concern for poor living standards and
  poverty
• To try and improve health standards and end
  needless suffering
• To help out in times of emergency
• Economic Reasons
• To protect our trading interests with African
  countries - they supply us with essential raw
  materials and food products
• To boost our own economy - money spent on aid may
  come back to us in the form of tied aid or
  boomerang aid
• Political reasons
• To maintain our influence in Africa
•          To support governments in Africa that
  have friendly relations with the UK

31
If a rich country is considering giving aid to a
country then why is whether the developing
country is a democracy a factor?
There are many factors that a rich country may
take into account when deciding whether or not to
give aid to a particular poor country. One of
those factors is to do with the politics of the
poor country - is it a democracy or not? This is
one way that richer countries can use to try and
make some African countries move towards
democracy. If they are not democratic they will
not get aid and they will remain poor. Another
reason is that if the poorer country is
democratic then there is a better chance that aid
money given will be spent wisely and fairly. In a
dictatorship it may be used for unsuitable
purposes or distributed unfairly.
32
Why does the UK give some countries aid and not
others?

• The needs of the country - does it have major
  economic / social problems?
• The political system of the country - is it a
  democracy?
• What might Britain have to gain by helping the
  country - trade, defence etc.?
• Is the country a former UK colony or a member of
  the Commonwealth?

33
What are the main reasons for Third World
countries being in debt?
Debt has built up because of loans that were
taken out in the past. These loans were taken on
as long ago as the 1960s and 1970s. It was hoped
that the investment would help to pay for new
industries and projects to improve the economies
in Third World countries. However, in many cases
the projects failed and did not generate any
money. The cost of the projects still had to be
paid off. These debts are a crippling burden to
poor countries - they can scarcely afford to
repay the annual interest let alone start to pay
off the actual debt itself.
34
Why do you benefit from being a member of the
United Nations?
The United Nations is like a club for
countries. Everyone that joins agrees to live by
the basic rules and principles of the club - to
respect human rights, avoid conflict etc.
Countries pay money to be a member of the United
Nations - how much depends on how wealthy the
country is. One of the aims of the United Nations
is to try to improve living standards for the
worlds poorest people - this means that poor
countries will receive more from the United
Nations than they put in. These countries benefit
financially from UN membership. Rich countries
like the UK pay more into the United Nations than
they get back. It can be argued that they make a
financial loss from U.N. membership. However, if
their contributions lead to an improvement in
living standards around the world, then
businesses in rich countries will have more
customers. This will increase wealth in the rich
countries as well. For your exam you need to
learn how poorer countries can benefit from being
in the United Nations Access to long-term aid
programmes organised by agencies such as UNICEF,
UNESCO, FAO, WHO etc. Access to short-term
emergency aid when there is a crisis (e.g. flood,
famine etc.) Access to peace-keeping forces in
times of war and conflict NB Aid provided by the
UN is multi-lateral aid.
35
What role did the UN play in Kosovo?
The UN organised diplomatic pressure against
Serbia to try and force them to allow basic
rights to the Albanian population in Kosovo. This
includes the economic sanctions taken against
Serbia (trade barriers etc.) The military force
that eventually invaded Kosovo, KFOR, did so
under the banner of the United Nations. KFOR
includes soldiers from the USA, Britain and
Germany (all NATO members), but also from Russia.
The UN also had a major role in dealing with
refugee problems. The UNHCR is the organisation
that deals with refugees.
36
What is a Rapid Reaction Task Force?
This topic can come up in questions about the
role of NATO and the United Nations in Europe. A
Rapid Reaction Task Force is a military force
which is ready to go into action as soon as a
conflict breaks out in Europe. It would be made
up of soldiers from various armies of countries
that are members of NATO - including the UK, USA
and Germany. There are places in Europe that are
very unstable. In recent years there have been
conflicts oin Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo - it is
possible that similar events could happen in the
likes of Macedonia and Montenegro. A Rapid
Reaction Task Force, made up of NATO forces,
would be helpful if it helped to keep the peace
and minimise casualties I a situation like
this. There is some debate as to who should
control a Rapid Reaction Task Force. If NATO
organised and controlled it then the USA would
have a big say. On the other hand, there is an
organisation called the Western European Union
which is the military arm of the European Union.
In this case the USA would have no influence at
all.
37
What exactly does NATO do?
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
as it should be known, is a military
organisation. Its members include the USA and
Canada, as well as most of the countries of
Western Europe, including the UK. NATO was
originally set up in 1949 to counter-balance the
power of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe. From
1949 until the late 1980s NATO and the Warsaw
Pact (Soviet Union and allies) fought the
so-called Cold War and the Arms Race against each
other. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union
and the end of Communism in Europe, NATO has
changed its role. It is still the major military
organisation in Europe but its role is now more
as a world peace-keeper. NATO forces have been
involved in ending conflicts and keeping the
peace in places such as Yugoslavia.
38
Why do some people feel NATO and the EU are no
longer needed?

• NATO
• You are correct to say that some people feel that
  NATO is no longer needed. However, their argument
  is based on the fact that the Cold War is over -
  the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe are no longer
  ruled by Communists and do not pose an immediate
  threat to our security.
• There are conflicts in Europe, such as those that
  have happened in the former Yugoslavia.Other
  reasons why some people argue that NATO is no
  longer needed include
• Expensive to maintain a huge military
  organisation
• The presence of a military force may encourage
  more trouble
• The USA takes advantage of European countries,
  such as Britain, as a base for its armed forces
• EU
• Few people would argue that there is no need for
  the EU. However, some people would claim that
  Britain would be better off if it was not a
  member of the EU. Their reasons would include
• Britain pays more into the EU than it gets out
• British businesses suffer because of competition
  from Europe
• Britain has lost sovereignty (decision-making
  power) as a result of EU membership.

39
What are the main advantages and disadvantages of
a common market for its member states?
A Common Market is an organisation that aims to
make trading easier. The best example is the
European Union, although there are equivalent
organisations in other parts of the world. The
main advantages are Easier for businesses to
sell their products in other countries, thereby
creating wealth. Wider variety of goods
available because there is access to products
from several countries. Stable prices because
of a reasonably guaranteed supply of products.
The main disadvantage is Competition from
foreign businesses may affect our own industries
and companies.
40
What are the benefits and disadvantages of the UK
joining the single currency?

• Benefits
• UK would be in-step with all our main European
  partners
• Foreign businesses would be more likely to set-up
  in the UK
• Reduction in the costs for exchanging money into
  different currencies
• Disadvantages
• Loss of sovereignty - more European influence on
  Britain
• Some people argue that it would make our
  businesses less competitive and could lead to
  higher unemployment in the UK

41
What economic and military actions can
international organisations take to bring peace
to areas of conflict?

• Economic Actions
• Trade Sanctions, to prevent trade with countries
  that are involved in a conflict. For example,
  trade sanctions were applied against Serbia
  during its campaign in Kosovo.
• Boycotts of goods - deliberately avoiding buying
  products that come from a particular country.
• Cutting off aid projects, to halt the development
  of the country in question.
• Military Actions
• Military action such as the NATO bombing of
  Serbia.
• Blockades - to physically cut-off access to a
  country by using troops and warships.
• No fly zones - to prevent aircraft from reaching
  a country.

42
I need to know some things on Social Political
Progress of Minorities in the USA?
There are a few things to remember when answering
questions like this. Firstly, remember to try
and mention more than one minority group. Do not
just base your answer on Black Americans. Other
minorities include Hispanics, Asian Americans,
Native Americans and so on. Secondly, make sure
that you know the difference between political,
social and economic progress. You could be asked
about any combination of these. At Credit Level
you would be expected to know which was
which. For both political and social progress,
the fact is that although minorities have made
progress over the last forty years, they remain
disadvantaged compared to White Americans. Points
to mention to illustrate political progress
George Bush Jnr. Has named five people from
minority groups in his Cabinet - 2 Black
Americans (Colin Powell - Secretary of State, Rod
Paige - Education), 2 Asian Americans (Norman
Mineta - Transport, Elaine Chao - Labour), and 1
Hispanic (Alberto Gonzales - White House
Counsel). There are 3 Senators from ethnic
minority groups (1 Black, 2 Asian), and 65
members of th4e House of Representatives. Given
that minorities make up 27 of the US population,
there should be substantially more than this. At
local council level 95.3 of elected posts are
held by White Americans. Points to mention to
illustrate social progress Social factors are
things like education, health, crime and
housing. Government programmes such as
Affirmative Action have improved educational
opportunities for ethnic minorities. However, as
with politics, they remain disadvantaged compared
to Whites Black Middle Class has emerged as a
result of Affirmative Action One particular
minority group - the Asian Americans - actually
has a higher than average living standard, better
educational record and better health than the US
average.
43
I need to know what Affirmative Action is?
Affirmative Action is the American phrase for
what we in Scotland would call "Positive
Discrimination". American governments have used
Affirmative Action Programmes (AAPs) to try to
improve the living standards and prospects of
groups that were previously disadvantaged. In
particular, Black Americans have been targeted
through AAPs. Examples of AAPs include Reserved
places for Black students at top schools and
universities Employers having to give a certain
percentage of management posts to Black
Americans AAPs have been a controversial
political issues in the United States. The
Democratic Party have been much more supportive
of AAPs than the Republicans. This means that
there has been a stop start pattern - AAPs have
been less effective because they have not been
applied consistently.
44
Is there an easier way to remember why ethnic
minorities find it hard to participate in
American politics?

• There is not really an easy way to remember this.
  The main points to mention are
• Low voter registration - ethnic minorities are
  less likely to register to be eligible to vote
• Few role models in American politics - for
  example, there has never been a President from an
  ethnic minority group, and few top political jobs
  have been given to ethnic minority persons
• Dissatisfaction with the main political parties -
  although the Democrats get more support from
  ethnic minorities than the Republicans, many
  people believe that neither party has done enough
  to tackle the problems affecting these groups
• Lack of candidates from ethnic minority groups
• Some Hispanic Americans have a language barrier
  which means they do not participate in politics
• If you try to remember that there are five things
  to mention then you have a better chance of
  remembering what they are !
• In answers about ethnic minority groups, always
  try to mention more than one group.

45
Why have some groups of Americans made less
social and economic progress than others in
recent years?
When answering this question it is important to
separate out economic and social factors.
Economic factors have to do with wage levels and
employment rates. Social factors have to do with
education, health, housing etc. It can be argued
that there has been an improvement in the
economic and social status opf all groups in
America. However, ethnic minorities (with the
exception of Asian Americans) remain
disadvantaged. They have not made as much
progress, or as quick progress, as white
Americans. The reasons for this are complex
Poor education - itself a social factor -
means that many people from ethnic minority
groups have more difficulty getting good
well-paid jobs. Residual racism - although it is
illegal, there are still people with racist views
in important positions in the USA. Illegal
immigration - people who enter the USA illegally
and accept casual jobs will never make the sort
of economic and social progress that other people
enjoy. Ghettoisation - people from certain
neighbourhoods have a stigma attached to them.
They may find it hard to get accepted and
difficult to find employment because of their
address. Inconsistent government policies -
policies such as Affirmative Action have been
encouraged under Democrat administrations, but
discouraged under Republican administrations.
46
What is the American Dream?
The American Dream sums up everything that people
believe is good about the United States of
America. This includes The freedom to have your
own political views. The freedom to live your
life free from interference by the government.
The chance to get a well-paid job. The
opportunity to start your own business, to keep
the profits and to become rich and successful.
Of course not all Americans enjoy the benefits
of the American Dream. There are people who have
very poor living standards in the USA. However,
the chance of the American Dream encourages many
people from the likes of Mexico and Cuba to wart
to move to the United States.
47
Which factors contribute to the high living
standards and good quality of life for American
citizens
The biggest factor in the high living standards
and good quality of life for many American
citizens is the success of the capitalist
economic system in the USA. Americans are
encouraged to work hard and to profit from their
work - the government does not take much away in
the form of taxes. Because of competition between
businesses, goods and services are competitively
priced, meaning that people can buy good quality
products at a cheap price. The down side is
that the system also creates losers. There are
people in the USA who are very poor and have a
low quality of life. The government does little
for them in the way of handouts and support.
48
What is Affirmative Action.
In the UK we would call Affirmative Action by a
different name - Positive Discrimination.
Affirmative Action programmes were used in the
USA from the late 1960s onwards. The aim was to
increase the number of black Americans in
positions of importance. Places were reserved at
universities for black students, and some
employers kept a proportion of jobs for blacks as
well. Affirmative Action programmes were carried
out most effectively under Democrat
administrations - the Republicans were less in
favour of the policy. One of the main areas where
Affirmative Action worked was in government jobs
- many Black Americans got jobs in the Civil
Service.