“Greater equality in democratic states was the result of pressure from suffrage movements.” Discuss with reference to two democratic states, each from a different region.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the hypothesis that greater equality was the result of pressure from suffrage movements in democratic states. While the focus of the response must be within the timeframe of this topic, the examples chosen need not be contemporaneous with each other, but they must come from different regions. “Suffrage Movements” refers to organized action to provide a disenfranchised group with the right to vote. Such groups may, for example, include women, religious minorities, indigenous peoples, the poor and the uneducated. Candidates will discuss the linkage between extension of the vote and political, social and/or economic equality. It would be valid to choose examples where no such progress had taken place, or where extension of the vote was not due to suffrage movements. The examples may be considered separately or a thematic approach may be adopted.