Political Parties Flashcards
Define a political party
A political party is a group of people that seek to exercise political influence by winning political office. They typically have a broad focus of issues. Members of a party are united by a common ideology and political preference.
What are the functions of political parties?
- Representation
- Policy Forumulation
- Recruitment of Leaders
- Organisation of government
- Participation of the electorate.
Explain representation as a function of Political Parties
It is the Primary function. Parties link government to the people by responding and articulating public opinion . They do this by developing policies that appeal to the mass of the electorate.
What are the limitations of parties in fulfilling their representative role?
- FPTP means only 35% of votes are needed to take office
Explain the limitations of parties fulfilling the role of policy formulation
- Parties nowadays are too interested in following public opinion rather than taking clear ideological stances
- Parties now are too distanced from traditional ideology and don’t have any ambitious ideas
What are the limitations of parties in the recruitment of leaders?
- Electioneering and other party activities are poor training for running a government
How do parties organise government ?
- Facilitate cooperation between Executive and Parliament
- Provide a source of opposition and criticism to current government
- Give governments stability (Only under FPTP)
- Forms governments
How do parties facilitate participation and mobilisation?
- allows people to join parties
- educate the public through canvassing etc.
Who are the main actors who have power in a party?
- Party Leaders
- Parliamentary Parties
- Members and Constituency Parties
- Party Backers
What arguments are there, for and against, that Party leaders have the most power in a party?
- Personalisation of politics
- Trend toward ‘Presidentialism’
BUT - Personalisation is a weakness as well due to increased pressure. If a leader ‘fails’ he is expected to step down
What are the arguments that Parliamentary Parties have the most power?
- Since 1970s, MPs are more independently minded
- Decline in unity, increase of factions weakens the authority of the leader. E.g. Removal of Thatcher
What are the arguments against, that Members and Constituency Parties have the most power?
- Declining Party Membership
- Increase of Policy Committees strengthens leaders, don’t need members.
BUT - Have control over election of party leaders
What are the arguments that party backers have the most power in a party?
- Trade unions fund much of Labour and people think they have too much influence
- Big business fund much of Conservatives, people think they have too much influence
- electoral commission put a cap on undisclosed donations of £5000
How has the political system in the UK changed from a two party system to a multi party system in recent times?
- Devolution turning nationalist into my prominent figures of authority
- PR Systems used in all bodies created since 1997 has improved representation for all other minor parties like UKIP, Green, etc.
- New issues that cut across traditional party lines like the environment and the EU have allowed for emergence of UKIP, Green, etc.
What’s the difference between Left Wing and Right Wing Politics?
- The right are typically pessimistic about human nature, oppose change, favour order and authority and oppose state intervention
- The left are typically optimistic about human nature, support Liberty, equality and state intervention
What is socialism? What are its defining values?
- Fraternity: Socialism says humans are bounded together like brothers
- Cooperation: Socialism promotes working together rather than against each other
- Equality: Socialism aims to abolish of reduce class divisions
What are the two main types of socialism?
Fundamental Socialists - Marxists. Replace Capitalism with Communism.
Revisionist Socialists - e.g. Labour, Green. Capitalism should be reformed through socioeconomic intervention
What is Conservatism, what are its defining values?
- Tradition: A respect for practices and ideas that have been tried and tested by history
- Human Imperfection: The belief that everyone is morally flawed and self serving
- Authority: Top-Down society is natural.
What is Social Democracy?
An ideology that supports a balance between market economy and state intervention. It’s key goal is reformed/’humanised’ capitalism. It is either seen as betrayal of socialism, or the only practicable form of socialism.
What is one nation conservatism?
Conservatism that focuses on reducing social inequality. The rich acting in favour of the poor.
What is Neoliberal Thatcherism?
The economic side of Thatcherism. Focuses on maintaining a Free Market, Self Reliance and individuality.
What is Neoconservative Thatcherism?
Social side of Thatcherism. Calls for restoration of social order, authority and discipline. Fundamentalists, against change like gay marriage and abortion.
What is New labour/Blairism?
An attempt to blend free market economics with Keynesian social democracy. Retained free market control, but with more focus on public services. Tried to reform welfare system.
Main two goals of Cameron Conservatives
- Deficit Reduction
- ‘The Big Society’
How was Cameron’s approach to reducing the deficit similar to Thatcherite Ideology?
- Spending cuts more than tax rises, to weaken public sector and keep taxes low
- Privatisation
- Welfare Cuts
How were Cameron’s approaches to The ‘big society’ departed from Thatcherite ideology?
- Aimed to increase NHS Spending despite other cuts
- Aimed to reform welfare system, despite short term cuts
What is liberalism, what are its defining values?
- Individualism; focus on rights and entitlements as an individual
- Freedom; aims for Greatest possible level of personal freedom
- Toleration; people should be willing to accept policy they dislike to safeguard diversity and debate
What are the two types of Liberalism?
Classical - Minimal State, Maximal free market. Individuals are self interested and self reliant
Modern - State should ‘Help individuals help themselves’ through intervention
Describe 3 internal divisions in the Conservative party
- Divisions in the EU
- Divisions between pro Thatcherite and one nation
- divisions over the coalition and concessions made for the lib Dems
Describe 2 divisions in the Labour Party
- Divisions over the Iraq war
- Divisions between new labour/old labour, free market vs. state control
Describe differences between major parties policy
- Disagreemnet over methods of cutting the deficit
- disagreement over reform of the NHS
- disagreement over welfare policy
- disagreement over education; e.g. Free schools, grammar schools
Describe similarities in major parties policy
- All parties agree to post Thatcherite commitment to free market
- Agree to post Blair Lords reform and Devolution
- agree on commitment to war on terror
- agree on most environmental policy
