Party Policies and Ideas Flashcards
Political party
An association of people who have similar political philosophies and beliefs. Normally a party will seek power and develops an organisation whose purpose is to fight elections
Left/right
The two sides of the political spectrum being conservatives and conservatism on the right with lib Dems in the left with liberalism.
Liberalism
A state of political mind or political movement that places freedom, rights and tolerance high on its scale of values.
Conservatism
A state of mind and political movement that is naturally adverse to excessive change and reform. It is sceptical about strongly held political views, prefers the known to the unknown and generally supports the retention of traditional institutions and values.
Socialism
A state of mind and political movement that places such values as equality of opportunity, social justice and collectivism high in its scale of values. It is either opposed to free market capitalism or proposes measures to moderate the effects of capitalism.
Factionalism
Where inside of a political party there is a difference in opinion of an issue in the specifics of an issue such as Bill cash and the EU sceptics inside the larger Conservatives party which are also against the EU but not as much as Bill cash.
Consensus politics
A circumstance where two or more major political parties broadly agree on most basic policies. In other words a period where there are a few or no major political conflicts. It may also refer to a single issue where different parties agree to support the sample policies.
Adversary politics
The opposite of consensus. This is a circumstance where political parties are engaged in considerable conflict over political issues. It can also mean a process where opposition parties adopt adversarial attitudes simply in order to force government to justify its policies.
Two-party system
Where two fairly equally matched parties complete for power at elections and others have little realistic chance of breaking their duopoly.
Affiliated organisations
Groups that are linked to a party without their members holding regular membership of the party.
Women-only shortlists
Where a constituency party is required to draw up an entirely female shortlist from which their parliamentary candidate will be chosen.
Political Spectrum
A device by which different political standpoints can be mapped across one axis or more as a way of demonstrating their ideological position in relation to one another.
Authoritarian
In the political sense, describing any approach that favours strict obedience to the authority of the state.
Libertarian
Any approach that favours civil liberties and there rights of the individual over the authority of the state. They generally believe that society as a whole is best served by allowing citizens to operate relatively freely from state intervention.
Paternalism
Where power and authority are held centrally but the state acts benevolently, caring for the neediest. Key characteristic of ‘one nation conservatism’.
