Politics
Education
Why is education compulsory?
Why do we have a national curriculum?
How far should we select students for different kinds of education?
Do we specialise too soon?
Would we welcome mass higher education?
Useful links
Society
Social/ religious beliefs and values
What powers are attributed to God?
What power is conferred by religious faith?
What are the powers of religious leaders?
Is religion a force to be reckoned with in our culture?
Are there non-religious beliefs that have as much power?
Social change and reform
How do we define social class?
Is the concept still relevant?
How much social mobility is there?
How does it operate?
Do we base social distinctions on anything other than class membership?
History and culture
What is history all about?
Should we be 'English'?
Power
What makes for high status?
Are there different sorts of power?
Where are the power-bases in society?
Do we all have equal access to power?
Is real power only achieved collectively, or by institutions?
Politics
Rights and responsibilities
What is the social contract?
How far should society curb individuals' freedoms?
Is socialism dead?
What is 'stake-holding'?
How much should the state interfere in our lives?
Why do we need government?
Different Types of Government
Monarchy
Republic
Theocracy
Democracy
Unitary
Federal
Parliamentary
Presidential
Branches of Government
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Bureaucracy
For more information on politics, look at these sites:
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/gbpolitics.htm
Voting and political power
Should voting be compulsory?
How can the public influence the political process between elections?
Should the UK voting system be reformed?
Do we need a second chamber?
Is strong government good government? (See some frightening examples of, er, strong government.)
Middle East Crisis (focusing on the Lebanon)
Political and legal accountability
(For all the political questions, you MUST watch Yes Minister!)
What are the functions of the Parliamentary Commission and Ombudsman?
Who polices the police?
What do prison visitors, school governors, and watch-dogs do?
Are we over- or under-regulated?
How accountable are politicians between elections?
How accountable is the civil service?
Who appoints judges? And are judges impartial?
How much power do NGOs have?
Do multinationals have too much political power? Are they accountable?
Pressure groups: How are they formed?
How to they put pressure on?
Are they effective?
Are single-issue politics to be welcomed?
Is civil disobedience a legitimate option?
Media ownership [see also media]
The Dirty Digger: Rupert Murdoch
The
Rise and Fall of Robert Maxwell