Political Parties- Factore Affecting Party Success Flashcards
key elements in parties’ fortunes:
Quality of leadership
Valence
The influence of the press
Key event in parties’ fortunes:
-Quality of leadership
this includes the following qualities which are known to attract support:
+ experience
+ decisiveness
+ ability to lead
+ media image
+ intelligence
+ apparent honesty
Key event in parties’ fortunes:
-Valence
this refers to how people generally view the party’s image. It includes such issues as:
+ how competent they were when they were last in office
+ how economically responsible they appear to be
+ whether they are trustworthy
+ how unified they are — parties that are disunited tend to fare badly at elections; conversely, united parties are usually successful
Key event in parties’ fortunes:
-The influence of the press
the broadcast media have a legal requirement to be neutral. Media influence therefore centres on the press. The main aspects of press influence on the fortunes of parties are as follows:
+ The press presents significant images of party leaders as being weak or strong, decisive or indecisive, charismatic or unpopular.
+ By publishing opinion poll data, they may influence voting behavour.
+ Newspapers have preferences for particular parties and may present the policies of their favoured parties in a more positive light.
+ At election time most newspapers recommend that their readers vote for a particular party.
How the 3 key elements in parties’ fortunes can affect the success of political parties.
Quality/perception of leadership
Positive effects upon the party success
In 1997, Tony Blair’s high approval rating helped his party to a landslide victory.
How the 3 key elements in parties’ fortunes can affect the success of political parties.
Quality/perception of leadership
Negative effects upon the party success
In 2019, a poll conducted by Opinium found that 43% of respondents who did not vote Labour chose not to do so because of their negative perceptions of Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader.
How the 3 key elements in parties’ fortunes can affect the success of political parties.
Valence/ party image
Positive effects upon the party success
In 1983 and 1987, a divided Labour Party was heavily defeated by a united Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher.
How the 3 key elements in parties’ fortunes can affect the success of political parties.
Valence/ party image
Negative effects upon the party success
In 1997, the Conservatives were divided over Europe and lost heavily to Labour, which was united around Tony Blair’s New Labour agenda.
How the 3 key elements in parties’ fortunes can affect the success of political parties.
Influence of press
Positive effects upon the party success
In 1997, the Sun shifted its allegiance, pronouncing that ‘The Sun backs Blair’. Subsequently, the party enjoyed positive headlines in the run-up to the general election, helping it to win.
How the 3 key elements in parties’ fortunes can affect the success of political parties.
Influence of press
Negative effects upon the party success
In 1992, the Sun ran with the headline that if Labour leader Neil Kinnock won the election, ‘will the last person to leave Britain please turn out the lights’. After the election result, which returned a majority Conservative government, the tabloid claimed that It’s The Sun wot won it’.
