Political Parties Flashcards
What is an ideology?
A coherent set of beliefs that guide actions.
What is a policy?
A strategy aimed at addressing a particular issue a country faces.
What is an ideological spectrum?
A scale of beliefs from left to right.
What do the left believe?
Interests of the masses, more government intervention, more equal society, more social change.
What do the right believe?
A belief in individualism, and personal responsibility opposed to change, don’t agree with state intervention.
What is communism?
All property owned by the state. Classless, so there is no private property.
What is socialism?
The means of production, distribution and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community.
What is liberalism?
A doctrine putting emphasis on protection of individual rights, against state intervention.
What is conservatism?
Free enterprise, private ownership, traditional ideas to maintain the foundations of society.
What are the views of the centre ground?
Run an economy from the marketplace, government should protect vulnerable members of society, tolerance of others, constitutional change.
What are Big tent policies?
Policies which appeal to one side of one party, and another side of a different party. Flexibility of ideas.
What has happened to main parties recently?
They have moved to the centre ground, as data shows that parties who move to the extremes of their ideologies don’t win elections.
What is traditional conservatism?
Conservatives who want to maintain the status quo, suspicious of change, but recognise the need to branch out.
What are Thatcherites?
Conservatives who are anti trade unions, pro privatisation, want radical change, against the welfare state.
What were Thatcher’s quotes, which supported her beliefs?
‘No such thing as society’ ‘Without the strong, who would provide for the weak?’
What does classical liberalism place importance on?
Freedom, Self reliance, self improvement, little state intervention.
What is one nation conservatism?
Focuses on duty of those with power, and the privilege to use it wisely. ‘The palace isn’t safe if the cottage isn’t happy’
Which prime ministers were one nation conservatives?
David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
What did one nation prime ministers focus on?
Encouragement of state intervention, regulation of the economy, pragmatic, welfare state if necessary, protection of public services.
Why is traditional conservatism different to one nation conservatism?
One nation conservatives support government intervention, traditionalists don’t.
Which candidates did Margaret Thatcher believe would take the party in the same direction she did?
John Major, William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Howard.
Why did conservatives struggle during the period of 1990s-2000s?
They didn’t have many policies, just complaints about the party in power.
What did David Cameron call himself while running for leadership?
A modern compassionate conservative, saying he’s not a deeply ideological person.
What did David Cameron want to do to his party?
Move it back to the centre ground, detoxifying the conservative brand, gaining electoral advantage.
Which policies showed him detoxifying the conservative brand?
Liberal on homosexuality, Concern for minorities, Causes of crime focus, Environmental concern.
How did David Cameron adhere to incremental change?
3 million more apprenticeships, gay marriage.
How did David Cameron adhere to a pragmatic approach?
More help with childcare, cutting taxes, employment rate rose.
How did David Cameron adhere to a paternalistic approach?
Persistent poverty rate dropped, ‘hug a hoodie’ campaign, concern for minorities.
What were Theresa May’s policies?
Law and order, identify and reduce racism, transphobia, new grammar schools banned, more climate change legislation, improved obesity rates.
What does Theresa May identify as?
A mix between a one nation conservative, because of her concern for racism and transphobia, and a traditional conservative, because of her belief in law and order.
What were Boris Johnson’s Policies?
Populism, Brexit, Climate change, raised taxes, pledged to spend more on public services.
What does Boris Johnson identify as?
One nation conservative, with elements of traditional/ Thatcherite.
What were Liz Truss’ Policies?
Fracking, Energy support scheme, lower taxes, Rwanda policy, diminish workers’ rights.
What does Liz Truss identify as?
Thatcherite, but had to use some one nation policies for the times.
What are Rishi Sunak’s policies?
Cut taxes when responsible, Brexit, weaker climate change policies, more grammar schools, Rwanda, Get rid of some degrees.
What does Rishi Sunak identify as?
A Thatcherite, but had to use some one nation policies for his time in government.
What were the origins of the labour party?
Formed out of labour representation committee, radicals recognised that they needed to work with parliament, LRC became labour party in 1906.
What happened to Labour in 1918?
They wrote up the labour party constitution, and committed itself to socialism.
What did clause four of the constitution state?
‘To secure for the workers by hand or by brain, the full fruits of their industry, and the most equitable distribution that may be possible, upon the basis of common ownership.
Why does clause four reflect socialist ideology?
References people working together, receiving their fair share.
What did old labour believe about class?
Society and common class interest.
What did Old labour believe about equality?
Equal rights for women, ethnic minorities, and economically deprived. Didn’t believe in total equality for all.
What did old labour believe about social justice?
Windfall wealth should be redistributed, wealth through hard work should be kept.
What did Old labour believe about equality of opportunity?
State intervention should be in place, to stop some from being more privileged than others, creating better opportunity.