Party Policies and Ideas definitions Flashcards
Absolute equality of outcome
Belief that all citizens should have the same material wealth or the same economic conditions.
Nationalisation
The belief that the state should own and control industries and public services
Relative equality of opportunity
Providing everyone with the same ability to achieve their potential regardless of gender, race and class.
Welfarism
The belief that the state have the right to provide services concerning health, education, pensions and benefits.
Progressive taxation
Taxation which varies according to your wage. Higher income=higher taxes.
Human imperfection
The belief that everyone is not equal and therefore should be treated different. There are fundamental flaws in human nature and hence limits to human potential.
Organic society
The belief that society is not man made; it is naturally occurring and hierarchy is a component of this.
Hierarchy
An imbalance amongst people where power is not evenly distributed. Naturally there are leaders and naturally there are people to be lead. This can be expressed as a class system.
Paternalism
The belief that the rich have an obligation to help the poor.
Neoliberalism
(ECONOMIC POLICY) belief in classical liberalism- people are free to pursue economic self interest. Laissez faire approach to markets.
Neoconservatism
SOCIAL POLICIES protecting old Victorian family values
Indirect taxation
Percentage taxation on income which has a greater effect on the poor. (VAT)
Deregulation
Removal of regulations and reduction of control on business and corporations such as banks.
Atomistic individualism
The extreme belief that is there is no such thing as society and that people should work for themselves rather than relying on the state.
Limited government
Support player boundaries on what the state can and can’t do. Support for a constitution which controls the power and influence of the state. (Rights to privacy etc)
Toleration
The willingness to accept the values and views of others even if you don’t personally agree with them. Leads to an endorsement of the ‘harm principle’. Entirely free as long as actions don’t directly harm others.
Individual/natural rights
The belief that, humans, simply by virtue of being born, should enjoy certain absolute fundamental rights
Keynesianism
An economic strategy (developed by J.M.Keynes) in which growth is stimulated by allowing government spending to exceed tax revenues, so creating a budget deficit.
Butskellism
A term made up from the names of the Conservative chancellor R.A. Butler and the Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell, indicating an overlap in political parties.
2015 Conservative manifesto pledges:
- ‘Like for like’ replacement of Trident nuclear weapon system- 4 nuclear submarines
- In/out EU referendum following re-negotiations 2015
- Exempt properties of below £1 million from inheritance tax
- ‘Right-to-buy’ scheme: extend this to housing association tenants, allowing them to purchase the property at a subsidised rate
2015 Labour manifesto pledges:
- Reducing tuition fees from £9,000 to £6,000
- Raise the minimum wage to £8 by 2020
- Introduce a mansion tax on properties over £2 million
- Abolish “non dom” status that allows UK residents to not pay tax on overseas earnings by paying a £30,000 fee
2015 Liberal Democrats’ manifesto pledges:
- Increase taxation: exempt the first £12,500 from income tax- maintain current percentages at income tax levels
- Invest £500 million into mental health provision- give same status as physical health
- Education: support free school meals, protect schools budget for 5-16 and extend protection to 16-18 year olds
- Expand free child care for 3-4 year olds to 2 year olds.
- Committed to £8bn extra spending on the NHS over the next parliament
Catch-all party
A party seeking to appeal to the widest possible electorate.
-weak ideological commitment/identity
-great deal of political flexibility
-originates with Otto Kircheimer (Austro-German political theorist) to refer to the Christian Democrats
EXAMPLE: New Labour under Tony Blair (1997-2007)
Programmatic party
A party which seeks to transform society/ economy.
- Very ideological party with core set beliefs that do not change
- Policies tend to remain
Programmatic party
A party which seeks to transform society/ economy.
-Very ideological party with core set beliefs that do not change
- Policies tend to remain same regardless of electoral success/fortunes
- Tend to appeal to smaller group of people
EXAMPLE: Green Party is sometimes considered as a “programmatic party”
Historical example- Foot led Labour party was clearly democratic socialist and ideologically far to the left (leader 1980-1983)
Partisan de-alignment
Refers to the weakening identification of voters with ideological parties.
- Far fewer “core voters” and far more “swing” or “floating” voters
EVIDENCE of this phenomenon includes the decline of the two-party vote in UK elections (in 2010): Lab/Con vote fell below 2/3 of the vote (65.1%) for the first time. Greater levels of electoral volatility.
Conviction politics
Refers to a style of politics which rejects consensus and compromise.
-A conviction politician would prefer to pursue own beliefs than succeed electorally
EXAMPLE: Margaret Thatcher referred to herself as a conviction politician- to 1981 Conservative conference “U-turn if you want to, the lady’s not for turning”
Adversary politics
Opposite of consensus politics. 2 parties competing for government- both highly ideological in different areas of the spectrum.
-Policy differences are very significant; which party governs makes a significant difference
EXAMPLE in 1983 Thatcher led Conservative party committed to privatisation- Foot led Labour party committed to nationalisation, socialist economics, unilateral disarmament.
