Political parties Flashcards
What does left-wing political ideology generally advocate for?
Change, reform, and alteration to the way in which society operates.
Often involves radical criticisms of capitalism made by liberal and socialist parties.
What does right-wing political ideology generally advocate for?
Support for the status quo, little or no change, and the need for order, stability, and hierarchy.
Generally relates to Conservative parties.
What is the left-wing view on key issues? (the state, economy, social issues)
- A positive view of the state and a collectivist view of society. (the needs of the community are more important than the needs of individuals) “for the many, not the few”
- The government should also play a major role in the economy through the nationalisation of key industries, with the wealthier paying more tax through redistributive taxation.
- Providing an extensive welfare state and an embrace of multiculturalism to ensure egalitarianism (all people are equal) and fraternity (mutual support within a group)
What is the right-wing view on key issues? (the state, economy, social issues?)
- Individualism - giving the individual as much control over their own life as possible
- Free market operates best with as minimal government interference as possible
- Despite being economically libertarian, socially conservative - importance of a shared national identity and traditional lifestyle
What is a political party?
A group of people with similar political views who are organised for the purpose of winning government power.
What is the political parties function of selecting candidates?
- They select candidates to fight local, regional mayoral and general elections
What is the function of political parties policy formulation?
- Political parties determine the policy commitments that will be put in the party manifesto
- Labour Party, a National Policy Forum consults with party members over the development of policy.
What is the political parties function of representation?
- 2019 GE 76% of those who voted felt that their political opinions were represented by the Conservative Party or the Labour Party
- Opportunity to vote for a range of other political parties, ensuring even radical opinions are heard
Define adversary politics. example?
When there is a deep and broad disagreement between the main political parties.
e.g. PMQs is an example of adversarial politics.
What are the main methods that political parties are funded? (private donations)
Private donations - can come from individuals, businesses or trade unions. Rules enforced by the Electoral Commission ensures transparency and donations of more than £7,500 in a year must be publicly disclosed.
What are the main methods that political parties are funded? (membership subscriptions and fundraising events)
Party member usually pay an annual fee which contributes to the party’s budget.
Dinners and auctions can bring in significant revenue for parties.
What are the main methods that political parties are funded? (public funding)
Short money is worth around £10 million annually in total - to support opposing parties to support their work.
- there is strict criteria for parties to qualify for this funding (largely based on the number of seats and votes a party has)
What legal limits are put on campaign spending?
2000 - Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPER) capping election spending and requiring public disclosure of political donations with the aim of preventing excessive spending from unduly influencing election outcomes.
What is the difference between Labour and Conservatives funding?
Labour - fees paid by trade unions and other affiliated organisations e.g. “cash for peerages” controversy during the Blair government, some Labour nominations to the HOL were suspected of being a reward for funding the party.
Conservatives - a large share of its income from a small number of very wealthy individuals e.g. the Bamford family has provided them with £16m over two decades.
Define noblesse oblige.
Those of a higher social standing have a moral duty to help those of a lower standing who may require it.
What were Thomas Hobbes key ideas?
- State of Nature: without a central authority, society would descend into chaos.
- Social Contract: to escape this anarchic state, individuals collectively agree to surrender certain freedoms to a sovereign authority in exchange for security and order
- These ideas were set out in his book Leviathan
What are the origins of the Conservative Party?
- Traced back to the English Civil War
- Royalist supporters and the establish Church of England resisted giving Parliament greater influence and providing the public with greater freedom of worship.
- The conservative fear of the violence that sudden change can unleash was reflected in Leviathan.
- Principles of the French Revolution were in conflict with traditional conservative principles.
- Burke wrote about how the safest course was to approach problems pragmatically respecting authority and tradition as rapid change had consequences.
- By the 19th century, toryism was the party of property, pragmatism, tradition, stability, as to resist ‘mob rule’ and radical changes to the British constitution.
What are traditional Conservatives views on issues?
- People are naturally selfish and greedy
- Hierarchy and inequality is inevitable within society due to the uneven distribution of talent and motivation throughout society
- Property is vital as it provides a stake in society
- Preservation of tradition, e.g. Burke “change in order to conserve”
What are the key principles of neo-conservatism?
- Distrust of multinational organisations like the EU and UN - pursuit of national interest should always take priority
- Promotion and advancement of traditional moral values to ensure a stable society
- Strong forces of law and order to impose social motality
- Nationalism
What are the key principles of neo-liberalism?
- High taxation is a disincentive to work
- Markets should not be regulated by the state
- Welfare benefits are detrimental and produce a dependency culture
- Trade unions hinder economic development
What are one nation conservatives key beliefs?
- Disraeli’s “one-nation conservatism” was their way of reaching out to the working class
- The State should prevent excessive inequality socially and economically to avoid division that could lead to revolution or major change
- Accepted degree of inequality
- Organic body of society - stability and prosperity could only be achieved through all classes and individuals not putting their selfish interests above the wellbeing of the community.
What was New Right (Thatcherite) conservatism?
- 1970s combination of neo-conservatism and neo-liberalism described as ‘free markets: strong state’
- The economy best regulates itself with as little government intervention as possible - businesspeople and entrepreneurs create wealth not governments
- Closely connected with fear of disorder and a sense of community associated with traditional conservatism.
What are the key beliefs of the New Right (Thatcherites)?
- Giving the government extensive powers to fight crime and disorder: NC
- Discouraging alternative lifestyles that threaten tradition
- Keeping taxation to a minimum
- Reducing inflation and interest rates
- Discouraging a ‘dependency culture’
What were 4 policies of Thatcher? (home ownership, defence, trade unions, welfare)
1980 Housing Act
- allowed council tenants to purchase council homes at a significantly discounted price, a pledge in the manifesto 1979 to establish the UK as a “property-owning democracy”
- ON and T, helping those with less and the importance of property
1982
- purchased new nuclear weapons, establishing the Trident nuclear submarine programme
- Britain’s war in the Falklands, boosting popularity
1980 Employment Act
- outlawed “secondary action” by trade unions, idea of one set of workers coming out in strike to support another
- National Union of Mineworkers, 1984 unprofitable mines were being closed leading to a massive strike however the government didn’t back down and they had to go to work, reducing their power
Welfare
- cut benefits and sought to promote self-reliance rather than state dependency
