Political Parties facts Flashcards
Functions of a political party
- Representation
- Policy formulation
- Recruitment of leaders
- Organisation of government
- Participation and mobilisation of electorate
Functions of a PP: Representation
- Often seen as the primary function of parties
- Link government to the people by responding to public opinion
- Winning party can therefore claim a popular mandate to carry out its policies
BUT
- Electorate is not always well informed and rational when choosing parties to vote for
- Because of FPTP electoral system parties may only need 35-40% of votes to win GE
Functions of a PP: Policy formulation
• Parties develop programmes of government when seeking government
• Parties initiate and formulate sets of policies for the electorate
BUT
• In recent years, parties have distanced from traditional ideologies (become less interested in formulating larger goals for society)
• Have become more interested in following public opinion vs trying to shape it by adopting clear ideological stances.
Functions of a PP: Recruitment of leaders
• As a party member, future politicians gain experience of canvassing, debating issues and helping to run a constituency party
• Parties recruit and train future political leaders
BUT
• Governments are appointed from majority party, rely on a relatively small pool of talent
• Electioneering and other party activities are poor training for running large government department
Functions of a PP: organisation of government
• Operation of government relies on parties
• Parties help form government
• Give government stability and coherence
• Facilitate cooperation between legislative and executive
• Provide opposition and criticism – help scrutinise government
BUT
• There has been a decline in party unity since 1970s -> weakens party’s control of commons
Functions of a PP: representation and mobilisation
• Provide opportunities for citizens to join political parties
• Help educate and mobilise electorate through canvassing, public meetings, advertising, poster campaigns, party broadcasts, etc.
BUT
• Voters’ loyalty and identification with parties has declined. In 1964, 44% of electorate had a ‘very strong’ attachment to party. In 2005, only 10% said this
• Turnout in GE has fallen since 1997, only 59% turnout in 2001, 65% turnout in 2010
• Membership of parties has fallen – Now, fewer than 1% of people in the UK belong to a political party, whereas it was 7% in the mid-1900s
What is a single-party system?
One party puts up candidates for election, other parties banned, undemocratic & authoritarian. e.g. Nazi Germany or Communist Soviet Union.
What is a two-party system?
• Two-party system – Two parties compete for power on an equal or near equal basis. Other parties win few seats and exercise little power. e.g. Britain 1945-79, USA.
What is a multi-party system?
More than two parties compete for power. Power may alternate between various parties or be shared in coalitions. e.g. Italy produces continuous multi-party coalitions.
Advantages of a two-party system
+provides voters with a clear choice between rivals
+provides a strong and stable government due to a clear majority being created
+if the government fails, there is another party ready to take over (e.g. shadow cabinet)
+government is clearly accountable
Disadvantages of a two-party system
- adversarial politics may not be desirable
- encourages polarisation rather than consensus
- inefficient because huge swing in policies if government changes
What is Keynesian economics?
State should manage the economy
What is mixed economy?
Economy including both privately owned businesses and nationalised industries
Definition of absolute equality
when people have the same material wealth or in which the general economic conditions of their lives are the same
Definition of relative equality
When people have the same opportunities to succeed, unhampered by artificial barriers or prejudices or preferences
Differences between the left and right wings? (5)
Left: -Stress the importance of equality and community -Support for progressive taxation -Support for redistribution of wealth -Support for greater welfarism -Support for more government spending Right: -Stress the importance of freedom and the individual -Support for lower taxation -Support for individuals looking after themselves -Opposition to redistribution of wealth -Opposition to more government spending
Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (economy)
Old Labour:
• Regulation of economy
• Nationalization
• Keynesian approach to stimulating economic growth
• state intervention to ensure full employment
New Labour:
• Public sector borrowing acceptable for investing in public services
• Mostly free markets
• State role in enforcing competition/fair trade
• Partnerships between state and private sector in public services
Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (trade unions)
Old Labour: Strong trade unions needed to protect workers
New Labour:
There should be a limited role for trade unions
Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (Welfare state)
Old Labour:
• The welfare state is a way of compensating for disadvantage and redistributing income
• All welfare services should fall under the control of the state •
New Labour:
• Benefits should be used to empower people to get into work; not for redistribution of income
• Private sector should be involved in providing services if it could improve quality
Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (law and order)
Old Labour:
Tackle the causes of crime, especially economic causes (e.g. poverty)
New Labour:
Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime – a clear mixture of both aspects but became increasingly authoritarian
Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (EU)
Old Labour:
Largely anti-European, Britain should be free to protect domestic industries
New Labour:
Britain to play a full part in the EU whilst maintaining own independence; cautious support for the Euro
Difference between Old Labour and New Labour (general)
New Labour is more right wing - after Thatcher, Labour tried to build on certain aspects, such as tougher law and order and freer markets, rather than completely reversing it.
Is Miliband more Old Labour or New Labour?
Old Labour evidence:
• -opposes cut in top rate of income tax to 45%
• Won leadership due to Trade Union support (lost amongst MPs and MEPs)
• Opposes predator capitalism
• In 2014, (at Labour Conference) proposed 36,000 new staff for the NHS (echoes Old Labour)
• -government mandated freeze in energy prices
New Labour evidence:
• Supports “Blue Labour”
• Supports a “living wage” not just a minimum wage
• Opposes abolition of Educational Maintenance Allowance
• Supports government’s freeze on public sector pay – criticized public sector strikes in 2011 and 2012
(More left version of New Labour)
What is One Nation Conservatism?
- Originated with Benjamin Disraeli- he supported measures to improve lives of people to provide social support and protect working classes
- Believes in organic society in which different classes have natural obligations to one another.
- Society is naturally hierarchal, the people at the top have an obligation to the people at the bottom – noblesse oblige.
- A sense of pragmatism: if the ruling class was indifferent to the suffering of people, society would become unstable
- It is not individualistic
- Tradition is important in developing a sense of community
- The state has a role to play – but ONC emphases role of churches, voluntary bodies, etc (Disraeli legalised trade unions)
What is traditional conservatism?
- organic society
- natural hierarchy
- private property
- human imperfection
- “change in order to conserve”
What is Thatcherism?
- Atomistic individualism
- Social authoritarianism
- Neo-Liberalism
- Neo-Conservatism
- “The free economy and the strong state” - Andrew Gamble
What is Cameron’s conservatism? ONC vs Thatcherism
One Nation Conservatism evidence:
• “There is such thing as society, it is just not the same thing as the state”
• Supports the ‘nudge’ theory in which government ‘encourages’ people to make better choices for themselves
• Champions a concept known as the ‘Big Society’ (government do less, charities do more)
• Pledges to heal the “broken society” through “compassionate conservatism”
• Pledges to protect the NHS from government austerity measures
Thatcherism evidence:
• Reduces the top rate of income tax from 50 to 45%
• Pledges tax break for married couples
• On the 2011 riots: “this is criminality pure and simple… we will do whatever it takes to restore law and order” -> tough law and order very authoritarian
• Insists there is no economic plan B: austerity measures continue despite missing deficit reduction
• Supports reducing the scope of government with reductions in spending
• Raising tax threshold to £12,500 (2014 Con Conference)
• Raise the 40% income tax threshold to £50,000 from £41,900
• Introducing EXDOs (Theresa May did this) banning ‘disruptive’ individuals from making speeches and the Data Act
Classical Liberalism vs Progressive Liberalism
Classical
• Individual should be free to pursue their own economic self-interest
• Emphasis on protecting the freedom of the individual by limiting the power of the government and state
• “small government, economic liberty, free market economics”
Progressive
• For people to be truly free, state needs to play a greater role through some economic intervention and welfare state
• Had foundations for welfare state
• “Tolerance and equal treatment, intervention to help the poor”
• Key liberals: Keynes, Beveridge
How are Labour party leaders elected?
- Candidates are nominated by 12.5% of Labour MPs of 20% if they wish to challenge current leader
- Winners must have over 50% of the vote
- Electorate: 1/3 MPs and MEPs, 1/3 party members, 1/3 affiliated organisations
- AV electoral system used
- Someone could, in theory, vote multiple times (as member of party and affiliated organisation)
How are Conservative party leaders elected?
- Candidates must be nominated by two MPs
- Elimination rounds until two MPs remain
- Party members can’t vote until after MPs have decided on two candidates
How are Liberal Democrat party leaders elected?
- Candidates must be supported by 10% of party, plus 200 party members drawn from at least 20 constituencies
- Election is decided by individual members of Lib Dems in postal ballot
- AV electoral system is used
