The resources here are intended to be used in conjunction with our Higher Grade Modern Studies Course Notes book to provide additional guidance as you study.

• Key websites are listed by topic for quick easy reference
• Internet activities in the Course Notes book help focus your research
• Weblinks are monitored and updated to give you the information that you need

Extensive weblinks are available for the following course areas:

• Study Theme 1A: Devolved Decision Making in Scotland
• Study Theme 1B: Decision Making In Central Government
• Study Theme 1C: Political Parties and their Policies
• Study Theme 1D: Electoral Systems, Voting and Political Attitudes
• Study Theme 2: Wealth and Health Inequalities in the UK
• Study Theme 3A: Republic of South Africa
• Study Theme 3B: China
• Study Theme 3C: USA
• Study Theme 3D: European Union
• Study Theme 3E: Politics of Development in Africa
• Study Theme 3F: Global Security

All web links refer to related activities in Higher Modern Studies Course Notes.

Leckie & Leckie is not responsible for content on external websites.

UNIT 1: Political Issue in the United Kingdom

Study Theme 1A: Devolved Decision Making in Scotland

Scotland

• www.scottish.parliament.uk/
  p.9, p.11, p,12, p.15, p.20, p.22, p.23
• www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/petitions/reports/04/pur04-01-01.htm
  p. 20
• http://www.scotland.gov.uk/
  p.15, p.23, p.26, p.32

Westminster

• www.parliament.uk
  p. 26

Local authorities

• www.direct.gov.uk/Dl1/Directories/DevolvedAdministrations/fs/
  en?CONTENT_ID=4003604&chk=Lt2pXC
  p.28, p.31, p.32

COSLA

• www.cosla.gov.uk
  p.32

Media

• www.bbc.co.uk/news
  p.13, p.32
• www.theherald.co.uk
  p.13, p.32
• www.scotsman.com
  p.13, p.32
• www.guardian.co.uk
  p.13, p.32
• www.independent.co.uk
  p.13, p.32
• www.telegraph.co.uk
  p.13, p.32
• www.timesonline.co.uk/uk
  p,13, p.32

Study Theme 1B: Decision Making In Central Government

UK Government and Parliament

• www.direct.gov.uk/Gtgl1/GuideToGovernment/fs/en
  p.36 p.43
• www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp
  p.36
• www.Parliament.uk/
  p.36
• www.Parliament.uk/about_lords/about_lords.cfm
  p.49
• www.Parliament.uk/about_commons/
  about_commons.cfm
  p.43
• www.publications.Parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/
  memi02.htm

Political parties

• www.labour.org.uk/home
  p.50
• www.conservatives.com
  p.46, p.50
• www.libdems.org.uk
  p.50
• www.greenparty.org.uk/news
  p.50

Pressure groups

• www.realfathersforjustice.org
  p.54
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3653112.stm
  p.54
• www.makepovertyhistory.org
  p.54
• www.stopwar.org.uk
  p.54
• www.greenpeace.org.uk
  p.54
• www.countrysidealliance.org.uk
  p.54

Media

• www.bbc.co.uk/news
  p.38
• www.thesun.co.uk
  p.38, p.55
• www.telegraph.co.uk
  p.38, p.55
• www.guardian.co.uk
  p.38, p.55
• www.dailymail.co.uk/
  p.38, p.55

Freedom of Information

• www.ico.gov.uk
  p.56

Study Theme 1C: Political Parties and their Policies

Background: Party system

• www.electoralcommission.org.uk/election-data/index.cfm
  p.60

Funding

• www.electoralcommission.gov.uk/regulatory-issues/registers.cfm
  p.62
• www.guardian.co.uk/armstrade/story/0,,1973105,00.html
  p.62
• www.partyfundingreview.gov.uk/index.htm
  p.62

Party ideologies

• www.politicalcompass.org/extremeright
  p.62

Conservative Party

• http://politics.guardian.co.uk/print/
  0,,329489799-110642,00.html
  p.61
• www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=policy.campaigns.home.page
  p.65
• www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=democracy.taskforce.page
  p.65
• www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=party.history.page
  p.67
• http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1962733,00.html
  p.67

Conservative Party policies - Tax

• www.politics.co.uk/issueoftheday/economy/taxation/
  taxation/conservative-tax-plans-$455077$455077.htm
  p.67
• www.conservatives.com/
  p.67, p.68

Scottish Conservatives

• http://www.scottishconservatives.com/news_press/manifesto.aspx
  p.68

Labour Party

• www.labour.org.uk/labourdemocracy
  p.70, p.71

Scottish Labour

• www.scottishlabour.org.uk
  p.74

Labour factions

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4422086.st
  p.73

Liberal Democrats

• www.libdems.org.uk/party/fullpreamble.html
  p.75
• www.consult.libdems.org.uk
  p.77

Scottish National Party

• www.snp.org
  p.82
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/constituencies/default.stm
  p.82

Study Theme 1D: Electoral Systems, Voting and Political Attitudes

Voting systems

• www.electoral-reform.org.uk/votingsystems/systems2.htm#First
  p.86
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/constituencies/default.stm
  p.86
• www.electoral-reform.org.uk/votingsystems/systems3.htm#List
  p.89
• www.electoral-reform.org.uk/votingsystems/systems4.htm#AMS
  p.91
• www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/elections/2003/index.htm
  p.91
• www.scottish.parliament.uk/
  p.91
• www.electoral-reform.org.uk/votingsystems/systems3.htm#STV
  p.93
• www.electoral-reform.org.uk
  p.93
• www.electionsireland.org/counts.cfm?election=2002&cons=139
  p.93

Influences on voting patterns

• www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1483802,00.html
  p.97
• www.mori.com/polls/2005/ft050425.shtml#q5
  p.98
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4518785.stm
  p.100

The influence of the media

• www.bbc.co.uk/news
  p.103
• www.dailymail.co.uk
  p.103
• www.express.co.uk
  p.103
• www.theherald.co.uk
  p.103
• www.guardian.co.uk
  p.103
• www.independent.co.uk
  p.103
• www.thesun.co.uk/
  p.103
• www.scotsman.com
  p.103
• www.telegraph.co.uk
  p.103
• www.timesonline.co.uk/uk
  p.103
• www.politics.co.uk/issueoftheday/policy-exchange-newspapers-
  can-influence-readers-but-only-indirectly-$370488$366998.htm
  p.103
• www.politics.co.uk/issueoftheday/todays-issue-
  newspaper-political-backing-$370486$366998.htm
  p.103
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5094186.stm
  p.103

Influence of opinion polls

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/polltracker/html/polltracker.stm
  p.105
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4528655.stm
  p.105

Referenda in the UK

• www.electoralcommission.org.uk/referendums/UKreferendums.cfm
  p.105

Voter turnout

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4707570.stm
  p.106
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4537835.stm
  p.106
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4371700.stm
  p.106
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4563577.stm
  p.106

UNIT 2: Social Issues in the United Kingdom

Study Theme 2: Wealth and Health Inequalities in the UK

Class

• www.statistics.gov.uk/methods_quality/ns_sec/class_collapse.asp
  p.113

Poverty

• www.jrf.org.uk
  p.115
• www.dwp.gov.uk
  p.115
• www.uk-benefits.org/income_support.html
  p.115

Inequalities in wealth

• http://news.bbc.co.uk
  p.121
• www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en
  p.121
• www.eoc.org.uk
  p.126
• www.cre.gov.uk
  p.128
• www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb
  p.131
• www.ageconcern.org.uk
  p.131
• www.york.ac.uk/res/fbu
  p.131
• www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD/Overview
  p.132
• www.npi.org.uk
  p.132
• www.npi.org.uk/summaries/flyer%20mpse%202003.pdf#search=%22regional%
  20variations%20in%20poverty%20in%20UK%22
  p.132

Inequalities in health

• www.mind.org.uk
  p.137
• www.cre.gov.uk/duty/reia/statistics_health.html
  p.137
• www.heartstats.org/homepage.asp?id=6
  p.137
• www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en
  p.138
• www.statistics.gov.uk
  p.138
• www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/02160336/summary-children
  p.139
• www.ltscotland.org.uk/nq/images/InequalitiesHealthLifestyle_tcm4-336481.ppt#269
  p.141
• www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/Regional_Trends_38/rt38.pdf
  p.143
• www.scotpho.org.uk/web/site/home/home.asp
  p.144

Provision of health care and welfare

• www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/New_Deal
  p.147
• www.is4profit.com/busadvice/nationalminimumwage/
  index.htm?gclid=CNbOhpfejIcCFR5-Qgodn2Zf2w
  p.148
• www.careers-scotland.org.uk/
  p.149
• www.scottish-enterprise.com/modernapprenticeships
  p.150
• www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Jobseekerallowance/index.html
  p.150
• www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/MedicinesPharmacyAndIndustry/Prescriptions/NHSCosts/fs/en
  p.151
• www.dwp.gov.uk
  p.151
• www.surestart.gov.uk
  p.152
• www.bbc.co.uk/news
  p.161
• http://society.guardian.co.uk/
  p.161
• www.hebs.scot.nhs.uk
  p.161
• www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/fs/en
  p.161
• www.direct.gov.uk/Dl1/Directories/DevolvedAdministrations/
  fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4003604&chk=Lt2pXC
  p.161
• www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi
  p.161

UNIT 3: International Issues

Study Theme 3A: Republic of South Africa

Background information

• www.safrica.info
  p.166
• www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance
  p.166
• https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sf.html
  p.166
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa
  p.166

SA Constitution and political system

• www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/constitution/constitution.htm
  p.168
• www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/government/
  p.171
• www.bbc.co.uk/news
  p.171
• www.parliament.gov.za/pls/portal/web_app.new_middle_column?p_page_name=HOME_PAGE
  p.171
• www.gov.za
  p.171
• www.polity.org.za
  p.171
• www.gcis.gov.za
  p.171

Political parties and political issues

• www.safrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/constitution/polparties.htm
  p.173
• www.anc.org.za
  p.173
• www.da.org.za/DA/Site/Eng/DEFAULT.asp
  p.173
• www.ifp.org.za
  p.173

Media in South Africa

• www.tac.org.za
  p.176
• www.mg.co.za
  p.176
• www.kidon.com/media-link/za.php
  p.176
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_in_South_Africa
  p.176

Social and economic issues in SA

• www.safrica.info
  p.182, p.184, p.185, p.187, p.188
• www.statssa.gov.za
  p.184

Study Theme 3B: China

Background

• www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html
  p. 192

Structure of Government and CPC

• www.chinatoday.com/gov/a.htm
  p.193
• www.chinatoday.com/org/cpc
  p.193

Corruption

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/27/AR2006102700221.html
  p.198

Political parties, dissent

• http://www.freechina.net/cdp/
  p.199
• http://www.cdpweb.org/english/index.htm
  p.199
• http://www.innermongolia.org/english/index.html
  p.199
• http://fotw.fivestarflags.com/cn%7Dtbndp.html#ndr
  p.199
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao_Changqing
  p.199
• www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=23123&sec=59&cont=4
  p.199

Internet

• http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/google-in-china.html
  p.201
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6154444.stm
  p.201

Trade and economy

• www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_19/b3932010_mz001.htm
  p.204

Environmental problems

• www.newint.org/features/2002/12/01/develop-sustainability
  p.205
• www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/asian.superpower/three.gorges
  p.205

Agricultural reform

• www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5411325
  p.205

World economy

• http://au.china-embassy.org/eng/xw/t199624.htm
  p.207
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/6117080.stm
  p.207

Development and inequalities

• www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/219680/1/.html
  p.208

Education

• http://english.people.com.cn/200309/16/eng20030916_124344.shtml
  p.208
• www.unesco.org/education/efa/know_sharing/grassroots_stories/china.shtml
  p.208

Urban sprawl

• http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/stories/AAAS/index.html
  p.210
• www.china.org.cn/english/2005/Dec/152282.htm
  p.210
• www.china-embassy.org/eng/gyzg/t272408.htm
  p.210

Drugs, AIDS and crime

• www.utopia-asia.com/aidschi.htm
  p.212
• www.china.org.cn/english/health/185692.htm
  p.212
• http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA170711996?open&of=ENG-2S2
  p.212

Freedom of speech

• www.nytimes.com/2006/12/01/world/asia/01zhao.html?
  _r=2&n=Top%2fRefere&oref=slogin
  p.213
• www.ft.com/cms/s/e82a8a42-b3b8-11da-89c7-0000779e2340.html
  p.213
• www.cfr.org/publication/11515/#4
  p.213

Religious freedom

• www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=6905&t=1&c=1
  p.214
• www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2001/5752.htm
  p.214

Other human rights issues

• http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa170032004
  p.216
• http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-facts-eng
  p.216
• www.hrw.org/campaigns/china/beijing08
  p.216

Study Theme 3C: USA

Background

• https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
  p.222
• www.census.gov
  p.222
• www.cnn.com/2005/BUSINESS/07/26/global.brands/index.html
  p.223
• www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/28/cnn25.top.business/index.html
  p.223

Government

• www.usconstitution.net
  p.224
• http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/election/index.html
  p.224
• www.Whitehouse.gov
  p.225
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4545540.stm
  p.225
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/
  5197372.stm
  p.225
• www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1155732412882
  p.225
• www.usconstitution.net/consttop_sepp.html
  p.228

Useful information about the separation of powers can also be found at:

• www.socialstudieshelp.com/USRA_Sep-of-Powers.htm
  p.228

Ethnic voters

• www.whitehouse.gov/government/
  p.233
• www.svrep.org/latino_vote_campaigns_2004.html
  p,233

Social and economic inequality

• www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty04.html
  p.240
• www.cbpp.org/8-17-06tanf.htm
  p.240
• www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm
  p.241
• http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGAMR510521999
  p.241

Immigration

• www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/08/dobbs.august9/index.htm
  p.243

Affirmative Action Programmes

• www.usatoday.com/news/education/2004-05-16-school-integration-usat_x.htm
  p.244
• www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/affirm/affirm.htm
  p.244

Study Theme 3D: European Union

Background

• https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ee.html
  p.249

EU institutions

• www.europarl.europa.eu
  p.254
• www.eupolitix.com/EN
  p.254

EU Constitution

• www.bbc.co.uk/news
  p.257
• www.dailymail.co.uk
  p.257
• www.express.co.uk
  p.257
• www.theherald.co.uk
  p.257
• www.guardian.co.uk
  p.257
• www.independent.co.uk
  p.257
• www.scotsman.com
  p.257
• www.thesun.co.uk
  p.257
• www.telegraph.co.uk
  p.257
• www.timesonline.co.uk/uk
  p.257

The Euro

• www.parliament.uk
  p.262
• www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en
  p.262
• www.bbc.co.uk/news
  p.262
• www.dailymail.co.uk
  p.262
• www.express.co.uk
  p.262
• www.theherald.co.uk
  p.262
• www.guardian.co.uk
  p.262
• www.independent.co.uk
  p.262
• www.scotsman.com
  p.262
• www.thesun.co.uk
  p.262
• www.telegraph.co.uk
  p.262
• www.timesonline.co.uk/uk
  p.262
• www.mori.com
  p.262

EU Enlargement

• http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
  p.265

Other useful information can be found at:

• www.eurosceptic.com/index.htm
  p.265

Regional policy

• http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
  p.267

Other useful information can be found at:

• http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom
  p.267
• www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket
  /Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1145898849904
  p.267

Social issues

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/europe/2003/inside_europe/default.stm
  p.269
• www.guardian.co.uk/eu/0,,396838,00.html
  p.269

Common Agricultural Policy

• http://europa.eu/
  p.273
• www.parliament.uk
  p.273
• www.direct.gov.uk
  p.273

Common Fisheries Policy

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/default.stm
  p.274
• http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/
  p.274
• www.theherald.co.uk
  p.274

Study Theme 3E: Politics of Development in Africa

Background

• http://hdr.undp.org/aboutus
  p.278
• https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
  p.278

Millennium Development Goals

• www.un.org/millenniumgoals/index.html
  p.279
• www.wateraid.org.uk/uk/what_we_do/impact_of_our_work/default.asp
  p.281

Health - Aids

• www.aidsandafrica.com
  p.283

Health - Malaria

• www.rbm.who.int/cmc_upload/0/000/015/370/RBMInfosheet_3.htm
  p.283

Education

• http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_
  ID=51465&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
  p. 285

Other useful information can be found at:

• www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/mdg-factsheets/educationfactsheet.pdf
  p.285

Food and hunger

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4670744.stm
  p.287

Conflict

• www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/map.htm
  p.288
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/sudan/default.stm
  p.288

Debt

• www.guardian.co.uk/debt/Story/0,,1671829,00.html
  p.289
• www.guardian.co.uk/debt/Story/0,,1811311,00.html
  p.289

Other useful information can be found at:

• www.oxfam.org/en/files/pp030520_evian_africa.pdf/ download
  p.289
• www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/hipc.htm
  p.289

Land tenure

• www.fao.org/FOCUS/E/Women/tenure-e.htm
  p.292

AU

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2115736.stm
  p.294
• www.farmafrica.org.uk
  p.297
• www.farmafrica.org.uk/programmes.cfm
  p.297

Other useful information can be found at:

• www.africa-union.org/root/au/AboutAu/au_in_a_nutshell_en.htm
  p.297
• www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1539924,00.html
  p.297

Department for International Development

• www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/projects.asp
  p.298

UN agencies

• www.fao.org/food/english/about/index.html
  p.299

Other useful information can be found at:

• www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1146_key_players/page15.shtml
  p.300

Study Theme 3F: Global Security

UN and NATO organisation and operations

• www.un.org
  p.304, p.309, p.310
• www.nato.int
  p.306, p.317, p.318, p.325

Nuclear capability

• www.iaea.org
  p.322
• www.bbc.co.uk
  p.322
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weapons#Suspected_nuclear_states
  p.322

Libya, Afghanistan

• www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/
  ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390554
  p.323, p.325

Iraq

• http://news.bbc.co.uk
  p.328

Other useful information can be found at:

• www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/home
  p.325
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations
  p.304
• www.cnduk.org/index.html
  p.322