PARTIES Flashcards
What is a political party?
A group of people that is organised for the purpose of winning government power. Parties do this by putting candidates up for election in the hope of gaining representation and ultimately forming (or participating in) government
Function of political parties?
Representation Policy formulation Recruitment of leaders Organisation of government Education, participation + mobilisation of electorate
Representation?
Represent the people, respond to public opinion in formulating policies
Winning party can claim public mandate to rule and translates public opinion into government policy
Problems with Rep function?
Neglects minority
Electorate may not make an informed/rational choice
FPTP means that parties may win only 35-40% of vote. Also in US more people voted for Hillary than Donald
Policy formulation?
To get elected, parties have to formulate coherent policy programmes for government
Provides a choice of realistic and achievable options to the electorate
Problems with policy formulation?
Circumstances change
Mandates are non binding (e.g. Clegg with tuition fees)
Parties are more inclined to follow than shape public opinion by responding to opinion polls
Implies parties always have specific, coherent policies
Parties have become less ideological so no longer form big pic policy programmes with long term goals
Recruitment of leaders?
Politicians all start by joining a political party and gain experience of campaigning and debating in constituencies before being nominated as a parliamentary candidate
Problems with recruitment of leaders?
You can be popular within ur party but not appeal to wider public (e.g. Corbyn)
Govs can only be formed from MPS of the majority party- small pool of talent to draw from
Electioneering and party activities may not be good training for running a large gov department
Organisation of gov?
Whichever party wins a majority forms a government- i.e. UK has system of ‘party government’
Give government stability- all drawn from one party so should be united
Facilitate cooperation betw parliament and the executive/gov
Provide opposition, criticism and scrutiny of gov policy
Problems with organisation of government?
Party unity is weakening so there are tensions in ruling party (eg Brexit) … neither strong gov, nor effective opposition
Relying on the next largest party for opposition - no guarantee of size or quality
Education, participation and mobilisation of electorate?
Citizens can join political parties and help to shape party policy- which may become gov policy
Activities in constituencies educate and mobilise electorate eg canvassing, public meetings, advertising and posted campaigns
Problems with education, participation and mobilisation of electorate?
Declining voter loyalty to parties
Failing membership of parties: from 3 mil in the 1960s to 384000 now
Failing turnout in elections suggest voters are not mobilised to participate:
59% turnout in 2001 (lowest since 1918)
65%. 2010
66%. 2015
(Post war it was betw 80-90%…)
Authoritarian ideology?
State is more important than the individual
Liberal ideology?
Individual is more important than the state
Right wing ideology?
Light regulation/freedom of markets
Left wing ideology?
State control and ownership
Sweeping up party?
Trying to stitch together a coalition of voters who had different reasons to dislike gov in party (eg Labour betw late 70s-mid 80s against Thatcherism)
Core constituency?
The people who are loyal voters to the same party in particular constituency
One nation politics?
The idea that the nations issues can be resolved if everyone unites, reconciling the nations internal differences, provided that the elected government is prepared to act as an ‘honest vroker’
Catch all party?
Not ideologically driven- a party that aims to catch all possible voters
Strengths of 2 party system?
Political info is easy to understand as each party can represent their road political philosophy
Balance within a party is achieved due to broad range of interests which party has to accommodate for when making decisions
Easy to govern/discourages radical minor parties so more harmonious
Political stability (1 party gains majority) - this leads to economic growth
Fewer voting choices which helps voters make a better decision
Weaknesses of 2 party system?/ why we don’t rly have one anymore
Two main parties are vulnerable to third party revival at by elections and nationalist parties in wales and Scotland
Class dealignment: erosion of link betw socio-economic factors and voting behaviour (formerly important for catch all parties…esp Labour w working class)
Offers limited options: it is impossible for 1 party to tackle all interests of a particular voter segment (voter will prob disagree with one bit of party)
Partisanship… USA gridlock (brings gov to standstill)
Promotes corruption… concentration of power means big contributors would want something in return for supporting a campaign which then shifts gov policy (Bernie ecclestone and Blair)
Ignores alternative, more radical voices: 3rd parties are ignored due to winner-takes all voting mechanic where losing candidates lose relevance even if they have a major following. In a multiparty system debate and diverse views are encouraged as coalitions are formed from major and minor parties uniting
