Photo AI
Evaluate the view that neither individual rights nor collective rights in the UK are adequately protected and guaranteed - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 2
Evaluate the view that neither individual rights nor collective rights in the UK are adequately protected and guaranteed. You must consider this view and the altern... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Evaluate the view that neither individual rights nor collective rights in the UK are adequately protected and guaranteed - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Points in Agreement
Answer
-
Lack of a Formal Bill of Rights: The UK does not have a systematic and formal Bill of Rights where individual and collective rights are explicitly defined. This absence can create ambiguity in the protection of both types of rights.
-
Government Actions: Governments can and do regularly remove or restrict individual rights. This can be seen in cases of counter-terrorism legislation, where individual freedoms may be curtailed in the name of security.
-
Rights Conflict: A fundamental issue is that individual and collective rights can conflict with each other. For instance, the right to privacy may clash with the rights of communities to access information, illustrating inherent tensions in the rights framework.
Step 2
Points in Disagreement
Answer
-
Historical Protection of Rights: Both individual and collective rights have a strong historical grounding, as established by documents like the Magna Carta, which laid the groundwork for individual liberties in the UK.
-
Involvement in International Agreements: The UK’s involvement in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) signifies commitments to protecting individual rights. Such international frameworks help uphold rights standards at home.
-
Legislation Supporting Rights: Acts such as the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010 have been crucial in making rights more accessible and providing legal frameworks to challenge violations. These legal protections indicate that rights are, to some extent, safeguarded in the UK.
Step 3
Conclusion
Answer
In conclusion, while there are substantial arguments suggesting that neither individual nor collective rights are adequately protected, there are also compelling counterarguments that emphasize legal frameworks and historical protections as substantial measures that guarantee these rights.