Parties Flashcards
What are the core values of liberalism ?
-The Individual - should pursure their own life
-Freedom -natural right
-Reason - humans are rational creatures
-Tolerance - tolerate others beliefs, values and cultures
-Justice and Equality
What is positive liberty ?
Freedom to choose from a wide range of opportunities and realise your potential
What is negative liberty ?
Freedom fron intrusion and obstruction from others
What are the views of classical liberals ?
-Government should protect ‘life, liberty and property” and not much more.
-Laissez faire approach
-Free market with minimal govt interference
What are the views of modern liberals ?
-Social darwinism
-Inequality is natural as some will get ahead of others as peo;e may work harder
What is Neo-Liberalism ?
-Free markets
-Reduced public spending
-low taxes
-deregulation
What is meritocracy ?
Social class should be based on your merit, talents and hardwork
What is constituitionalism ?
-Constituitons prevent the govt from infringing on the rights of the people
What is government by consent ?
-Legitimacy can no longer be based on tradition - authority must come from the people
What are the Conservative core values?
-Tradition - traditional instituitions are worth preserving
-Human Interaction - pessomistic view of humanity (humans are imperfect)
-Order - Strong law enforcement
-Hierachy - we are born unequal - natural hierarchy - strict laws ensure order
-Property - Those with property will respect the property of others
What campaign in 1993 echoed the core values of the Conservatives?
-John Major ‘Back to Basics’
What policy measure under Thatcher in 1988 reflected traditional values?
-Section 28 > Banned promotion of homosexuality in schools
What are One Nation Tories ?
- associated with Disraeli (PM warned that the UK was splitting into two nations)
-Theory that for the sake of the organic society there needed to be one society but did not oppose the existence of social hierarchy
-belief in paternalism
What is paternalism ?
-When govt, people or organisations limit the freedom of others for their own good
What is the organic society ?
classical conservative belief that society is more like a living organism than a machine - everybody has a role to play
Who can be seen to represent the One nation Tories in their leadership?
-David Cameron > ‘Big society’
What is the conservative ideology of Thatcherism?
-Dominated in the 80s and 90s
-Conviction over compromise
-Emphasise on self-help and personal responsibility
-Economic freedom > lower taxes especially on income
-Denationalisation
-Strong advocate of the European single market
What is Neo-conservatism
-Maintain order
-Protect traditional instituitions and values
-Patriotism
What are factions within the conservative party ?
-ERG (european research group)
-CRG (covid recovery group)
-One nation caucus
What are the Labour parties core values ?
-Egalitariansim - tackling economic inequality
-Socialsist argue that equality of opportutnity is largely a myth - inequality results from rigid class structures and capitalist
What is democratic socialism ?
-Capitalism is inherently exploitative and therefore must be abolished
-Private property must be replaced by new systems of social ownership
What is social democracy ?
-Accepts capitalism but supports signifficant state intervention to address its most exploited
-Nationalise some major industry
-Keynesian intervention to stimulate demand and lower unemployment
-Increase legal protections amd redistribute wealth through welfare
eg, harold wilson, Tony Blair , Keir starmer
How can Economic socialism be seen as a Labour ideology?
-Postwar Attlee govt
-The welfare state and dedication to it
-Nationalisation
-Jeremy Corbin 2017 > partial denationalisation in his policies
-Labours historic pledge to distribute wealth
How is Trade Unionism a insignificant ideology in the Labour Party?
-Historic ties with Labour and the Unions
-Under Starter > Union influence over the Labour Party has decreased
What is Globalist Internationalism as a Labour ideology?
-Labour’s policies commitment to peace, disarmament, resisting racism and racism worldwide
How is Global Internationalism within the Labour Party declining?
-weakened by Blair’s involvement in the ‘war on terror’ and his involvement in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and the 2003 invasion of Iraq
What is the Labour Ideology of Third Way Socialism/ New Labour?
-Blair’s Labour Movement 1997-2010
-modernise and update the party
-Thatcherite economics but retaining Labour social values
-Blair’s mantra “Education, Education, education”
What is Sinn Feins ideaology ?
-irish republicansim
-Democratic socialism
What is Reform Uk ideaology ?
-Neo-liberalist party
What effect does Reform Uk have on governemnt policy ?
-Could swing conservative voters
-Deals often made with cons surrounding marginal seats
-UKIP and Brexit party
What is political agenda
what a party wants to get done / achieve
What is agenda setting ?
Policies which a party bases their campaign on
What are the main functions fo politcial parties ?
-Governing and electtioneering
-Raising money
-Policy development & policy intergration
-Representation
-Recruitment
-Participation
What is a One Party system ?
-associated with authoritarian regimes
-single party has monopoly of power
-communist regimes (china, North Korea)
What is a Two-Party system ?
-two major parties
-both parties have a storng chance of gaining power
-may be other parties but they do not compete for office
-tend to flourish where FPTP is used
-Britain and US
What is a Multi party system ?
-Govt tends to be coalitions
-Not a clear distinction between opposition and govt
-common where proportional representation is use d
-Finland, Italy
What is a dominant party system?
-Exists where there is free competition between parties
-only one party is likely to achieve am absolute majority in votes
-African national congress in SA
Why does the UK have a two-party system?
-The electoral system
-The existence of broad catch-all parties
-emphasis on being in govt or opposition
-problems faced by mior and third parties
What are the advantages of having a two-party system?
-Less likely to allow radical groups into government
-Simple for the voter to understand
-Often allows one party to be in control > more stable govt
-The govt is clearly accountable to the electorate
what are the disadvantages of having a two-party system?
-Lack of political diversity
-Limited choice for voters
-Eventually leads to political polarisation
-Lack of representation
Why does political polarisation occur and what does it cause?
-If you’re not happy with what one party offers > forced to agree with what is available in the other.
-the exclusion of alternative viewpoints > agrees with what is already set
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How does a Two-party system have a lack of representation?
- encompasses various factions under one umbrella, causing voters to hide their genuine opinions
- ## In a multi-party political competition > voters have the opportunity to select a candidate who aligns with their values.
What does a lack of political diversity cause?
Instead of focusing on the experience of the candidates in question voters focus on the parties by their names.
How is the leader of the Conservative Party chosen?
-1965-1997 >leadership election restricted to the party MPs alone
-The system of election has two phases
-One member, one vote system
How is the leader of the Labour Party chosen?
-Process reflects internal party democracy as party members and registered supporters vote (OMOV and AV used)
-Role of PLP, local parties and trade unions dictate within the party
How is the leader of the Liberal Democrat party chosen?
-AV system used
-Lib Dems stand in the election > need the support of at least 10% of the party MPs and at least 200 MPs from 20 other local parties.
Why was the 2016 Conservative leadership election controversial?
-Held due to Cameron’s resignation
-May was technically unelected as she was left unopposed, therefore won automatically
What factors affect parties and their electoral outcomes?
-Relevance and attractiveness of main policies
-Leadership
-A committed and energised group of activists on the ground
-Strength and situation of the opposition
-Party unity
-Electoral system
How can Party leadership be seen as important to electoral outcomes for parties?
-A strong leader with good communication skills can help win a campaign
How can the strength and situation of the opposition be seen as important to electoral outcomes for parties?
-2019 Johnson was a formidable and experienced campaigner
-Cons were helped by the Brexit parties’ decision to not contest Tory-held seats
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How can Party unity be seen as important to electoral outcomes for parties?
-Tories in disarray under May > Johnson removed the party whip from 21 rebel MPs > several who decided not to contest their seats again
-Labour 2019 > heavily factionalised > accusations of anti-semitism > own MPs resigned over the scandal > Ian Austin
How can the Electoral system be seen as important to electoral outcomes for parties?
-Lib Dems disadvantaged in 2019 due to the system > won 11% of the vote but only got 1.7% of seats
