Chapter 4 - Voting trends and theories (NOT FINAL) Flashcards
What are core voters?
Those voters who stick to the same party consistently.
What were the reasons for the decline of two-party dominance up to 2017?
- Both parties sought to capture the ‘centre ground’ and so voters saw little difference between them.
- The emergence of small parties.
- Partisan-dealignment.
What is partisan dealignment?
When voters that used to voter only for one party detach themselves from it.
What percentage of the vote went to the two main parties in 2010?
65%
What percentage of the vote went to the two main parties in 2017?
82%
What is valence?
The impression and image of a party and how well people think they can handle issues.
How did political analyst Peter Kellner describe valence voters?
“They judge parties…not on their manifestos but on their character.”
What is positional voting?
When voters choose a party based on its position on one or a group of issues.
What is economic voting?
When people make their decisions based on which party is likely to manage the economy well.
How do economic voters view the Labour Party?
To blame for the 2008 financial crisis.
What sort of party has no chance of winning a general election?
A disunited party.
Which recent leader suffered from negative valence and party disunity?
Jeremy Corbyn
Which recent party leader was seen as weak?
Ed Miliband
What are the four general valence issues?
- How generally competent are they?
- How economically competent are they?
- How united are they?
- Do they have a strong leader?
What is the rational choice model of voting?
When voters are not committed to one party or another and vote based on their own judgement of which is best at the time.
What do parties look to find when trying to win over rational choice voters?
Salient (important) issues.
What are the two types of rational choice voting?
- Altruistic voting
- Instrumental (self-interested) voting
What qualities do the public normally consider important in a leader?
- Record in office
- Compassion
- Decisiveness
- Apparent honesty
- Strong leadership
- Clear vision
- Communication skills
How much was Labour leader James Callaghan’s popularity poll leader over Margaret Thatcher in the run-up to the 1979 general election?
20% - yet despite this massive lead, he lost the election.
Does the popularity of party leaders swing elections?
No
What did Archie Brown, Oxford University politics professor, say about the impact of party leaders on election outcomes?
Only in an extremely close-run race can the popularity of party leadership “make the difference between victory and defeat”.
Why is Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership in 2017 an enigma?
Despite being an underdog, reviled by the press, opposed by many MPs, and unpopular among voters, thanks mainly to young voters Labour enjoyed a resurgence in the 2017 general election - suggesting leadership can make a difference.
What percentage of voters did Ipsos MORI suggest voted tactically in the 2010 general election?
10%
