political parties Flashcards
1
Q
functions of political parties
A
- government
- representative
- formulate policies
- political recruitment –> Provide leadership
- participation
2
Q
government as a role of political parties
A
- rep democracy: gov has intimate connection with political parties
- Britain has a long history of stable single party governments –> discipline exerted through party whips and governing party expect mps to vote for legislative programme claiming legitimacy from gov mandate
- under strain: major 1992-7 and C rebels and EU, Blair and backbench dissent; rebel mps force gov to change its policies on educational reform and detention of terror suspects
- democratic tensions in party gov systems shown
- pol parties do fulfill democratic requirements by ensuring relatively stable govs without suppressing dissent in their own ranks
3
Q
representation as a role of political parties
A
- most successful parties strike the most popular compromises between passionate ideals of their activists and the views shared most widely amongst the electorate
- accusations of not representating: 1990s opponents of EU integration said no main parties offered withdrawal as an option
- 2003: voters unhappy with pol process due to C+L support of iraq war
- economy: key valence issue -> C 1980s-1992, L too
- parties try to listen to issues of public concern, like ‘focus groups’ and make sure their elected reps reflect the makeup of society (female and ethnic minorities)
4
Q
participation and mobilisation as a role of political parties
A
- parties are failing: fall in turnout and party membership numbers (2005, combined figure for all parties was about 600,000 members but in 1975 for C was 1.12 million)
- small membership indicates unpopularity –> C defeat in 1997 election, leader William Hague announced target of 1 million members by the year 2000
5
Q
policy formulation as a role of political parties
A
- parties make members feel a part of policy making decisions to keep them as members, campaign for them and donate money
- members can make suggestions to policy committees which produce reports subject to votes at an annual conference
- L: network of local/regional ‘policy forums’ feeding ideas into a national PF
- 2006: body had 183 members, 1/3 from constituency parties –> ordinary members can vote at conferences to further express views to NPF
6
Q
recruitment of leaders as a role of political parties
A
- in rep d, expectations that leaders should serve some kind of political apprenticeship
- political parties offer various career paths, in which aspiring candidates can learn relevant skills
- john major was local councillor before an MP and Blair fought a by election in an unpromising constit before entering as MP for sedgefield
- Blair: controversy for giving ministerial positions to friends (lord chancellor lord falconer who never contributed much to labour)
- overwhelming maj of mins owe positions to longstanding connections to their parties
7
Q
why would some say that party performance has declined
A
- since 1997 main three parties tailor to the middle classes as the most powerful group in contemporary british society –> fail to satisfy their representational role
- C and L ideas to build a coalitions of support from discontented groups have lead to electoral defeats, while LD support simultaneously rise between 1992 and 2005 as the party provided an alternative choice
- absence of clear ideological differences between the parties: people’ incentive to support a party as they are committed to transform society but all the main 3 want to preserve it
8
Q
increasing social diversity causes the decline in political parties
A
- divisions
- different interests generated by race, gender, generations, urban vs country
9
Q
decline of class cleavages causes the decline in political parties
A
- social class is an indicator of loyalty but social economic divisions are more complex than they used to be –> makes it more difficult for parties to identify potential sources of support
- non aspirational people (rich and poor) tend to find their interests are overlooked by parties that find it easier to mobilise suppport from those who wish to better themselves
10
Q
consumerism causes the decline in political parties
A
- consumerism fostered short term attitudes among the electorate while policy makers have to make a plan for the future
- nationwide opposition to increase fuel taxes 2000: politicians recognised long term impact on environment as a demerit good but consumers decided pols were out of touch
- in a consumer society people are less likely to participate unless they see an obvious personal benefit but party membership involves hard wrok with little recognition
- volatile electorate will forget will forget crucial place of organised parties in rep dem as they are critical, and would make the party system more difficult wihtout considering the weaknesses of other systems
11
Q
decline of british power causes a decline in political parties
A
- prevelant in older gen dissolutionment –> exaggerated uk role in the world
- discourages politicians from an acceptance of the EU and focus on special relations with US
12
Q
influence of media on the decline of political parties
A
- encourages a more intrusive, inquisitorial and critical approach to politicians
- media friendly politicians chosen as leaders, but popular qualities overtime causes electorate to distrust them
- attitudes in newspapers = disrespectful –> decline in deference, product of consumerism (newspapers dont think readers respect pols)
13
Q
how do the C choose party leaders
A
- mps vote in a series of ballots designed to narrow leadership candidates to 2
- party members vote for 1 member for the leader
14
Q
how to L party choose leaders
A
- candidates need to secure the nomination of 15% of the parliamentary labour party to qualify for the ballot
- party members and registered supports vote on one member under the AV system
15
Q
how to LD choose party leaders
A
- candiates must secure the nomination of 20 local parties or 200 party members to qualify for the ballot
- party members vote under AV
16
Q
how do
A
