Politics: Parties- 2.4 In context Flashcards
What is Conservatism?
A loose ideology favouring a pragmatic approach to dealing with problems, while seeking to preserve the status quo.
What is Monetarism?
An economic theory which advocates controlling the money supply as a means of keeping inflation in check.
What is Neo-liberalism?
A political ideology closely related to classical liberalism, stressing the importance of the free market, individual rights, and limited government.
What is Paternalist conservatism?
Where power and authority are held centrally but the state acts benevolently and cares for the neediest.
What significant change occurred in UK political parties after the Great Reform Act of 1832?
UK political parties began to emerge as mass membership organisations with formal structures outside of parliament.
When did the Conservative Party emerge and under who?
The Conservative Party emerged from the Tory Party in the 1830s, with its birth often dated to Robert Peel’s Tamworth Manifesto in 1834.
What were the two extended periods in office for the Conservative Party in the twentieth century?
1951–64 (13years) under Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, and Alec Douglas-Home; 1979–97 (18 years) under Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
What characterizes one-nation conservatism?
It is rooted in pragmatism and gradual improvements, favouring pluralism and social inclusion.
What are key commitments of one-nation Tories?
Slow, gradual change; a Keynesian mixed economy; support for a universal welfare state; internationalism.
What is Thatcherism?
An ideological approach combining a free-market, montarism, deregulation, neo-liberal economic policy with more orthodox conservative social policy.
What is adversarial politics?
The instinctive antagonism between the two main Westminster parties.
What was the postwar consensus?
The broad agreement between the Labour and Conservative Parties over domestic and foreign policy after the Second World War.
What are some key features of Thatcherism?
Deregulation, privatisation, statutory limits on trade unions, a smaller state, and limited state welfare provision.
What are the main factions within the Conservative Party as of 2016?
Pre-Thatcherite, Thatcherite, and Post-Thatcherite factions.
What distinguishes one-nation conservatism from Thatcherism?
One-nation conservatism is pragmatic and paternalistic, while Thatcherism is dogmatic and individualistic.
What was David Cameron’s aim as party leader?
To detoxify the Conservative brand and lead the party towards areas of policy where it could gain electoral advantage.
What was a significant challenge for Cameron’s government?
Reconciling traditionally liberal positions with a Thatcherite agenda while managing coalition dynamics.
What was Theresa May’s focus as Prime Minister?
Preparing for Brexit negotiations while attempting to set out a different policy path.
What is Social democracy?
A political ideology that accepts capitalism while advocating for a more equitable distribution of wealth.
What is Socialism?
A political ideology advocating greater equality and the redistribution of wealth, often suspicious of capitalism.
What was the Labour Party’s origin?
Formed at the start of the twentieth century to represent the working classes, heavily influenced by the Trades Union Congress.
What significant constitutional change occurred in 1918 for the Labour Party?
The extension of the franchise to all adult men coincided with the adoption of a new Labour Party constitution.
What is revisionist socialism?
Revisionist socialism, or reformist socialism, looks to improve capitalism, exemplified by social democracy.
What is revolutionary socialism?
Revolutionary socialism, or fundamentalist socialism, aims to abolish capitalism and bring all property into common ownership, as seen in Marxist communism.
What significant change occurred in the Labour Party in 1918?
The extension of the franchise to all adult men coincided with the adoption of the new Labour Party constitution, which included Clause IV committing to public ownership of key industries and wealth redistribution.
What ideological factions existed within the Labour Party by the 1970s?
-James Callaghan on the right resisting public sector pay demands
-left-wing figures like Michael Foot and Tony Benn favored greater wealth redistribution.
What was the outcome of Labour’s defeat in the 1979 general election (following the winter of discontent)?
Labour’s defeat in 1979 led to the left gaining control under Michael Foot, who led the party into the 1983 general election with a very left-wing manifesto ( longest sucide note in history )
What characterized the New Labour movement?
New Labour, emerging to fight the 1997 general election, was marked by party modernization under Tony Blair, focusing on appealing to middle-class voters and reducing the trade unions’ influence.
What is the Third Way in political ideology?
The Third Way is an ideological position between conventional socialism and mainstream capitalism, closely associated with Tony Blair and New Labour.
What does triangulation refer to in the context of New Labour?
Triangulation refers to melding Labour Party principles with lessons learned from Thatcherism, a strategy closely associated with New Labour.
What was the original text of Clause IV of the Labour Party constitution?
The original 1918 text of Clause IV aimed to secure for workers the full fruits of their industry and equitable distribution based on common ownership.
How was Clause IV reworded in 1995?
The 1995 reworded Clause IV emphasized a dynamic economy serving the public interest, combining market forces with partnership and cooperation.
What was the goal of social justice as defined by the Labour Party?
The goal of greater equality of outcome, as opposed to equality of opportunity alone. It is achieved through progressive taxation and other forms of wealth redistribution. The idea is closely associated with the Labour Party and with other parties of the left and centreleft, such as the Green
What challenges did Gordon Brown face as Labour leader?
Gordon Brown’s leadership faced challenges such as nationalizing banks and failing to meet expectations for constitutional reform, leading to a loss of New Labour’s reputation for economic competence.
What was Ed Miliband’s approach to Labour after the 2010 election?
Ed Miliband sought to distance the party from New Labour and struggled to establish a coalition of voters, leading to a significant defeat in the 2015 general election.
What ideological position did Jeremy Corbyn represent as Labour leader?
Jeremy Corbyn represented a committed socialist position, aiming to return the party to pre-New Labour policies focused on public ownership and wealth redistribution.
What factions emerged within the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn?
Factions within the Labour Party included Momentum, Saving Labour, Labour for the Common Good, and others, reflecting deep divisions in the party.
What was the significance of the ‘Gang of Four’?
The ‘Gang of Four’ refers to four former Labour ministers who left the party in 1981 to form the Social Democratic Party, believing Labour was controlled by a left-wing clique.
What led to the formation of the Liberal Democrats?
The Liberal Democrats were formed in 1988 from the merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party, following a period of electoral alliance.
What are the two main strands of liberalism?
The two main strands of liberalism are classical liberalism, favoring minimal state intervention, and progressive liberalism, advocating for some market regulation and welfare.
What was Nick Clegg’s role in the Liberal Democrats?
Nick Clegg, leader from 2007 to 2015, developed a government program that included traditional Liberal Democrat policies and significant tax cuts, marking a shift towards classical liberalism.
What significant change did the Liberal Democrats make regarding tax?
They offered the prospect of significant tax cuts if elected, marking a shift towards the ‘Orange Book’ liberals over social liberals.
Who are the key individuals associated with the Orange Book liberals?
Nick Clegg, Ed Davey, and David Laws.
What do social liberals draw on?
They draw on the ‘new’ or progressive liberalism of Keynes and Beveridge.
What was the prevailing economic climate for the 2015 general election?
All three main UK political parties accepted the need for further spending cuts and tax rises.
What was the significant cleavage between the parties after the 2015 general election?
The timing and magnitude of the cuts.
What areas showed significant agreement between the parties?
Lowering the voting age to 16 and integrating health and social care.
What did Daniel Bell argue in his book ‘The End of Ideology’?
He argued that traditional ideological movements had lost their power by the 1950s and that political parties would offer incremental changes.
What does the phrase ‘end of ideology’ refer to in British party politics?
It refers to the moderation of traditional ideological positions by British political parties since the 1990s.
How are modern British political parties often perceived?
They are increasingly regarded as election-winning machines rather than ideologically driven entities.
Give some examples of One Nation Conservatives?
Thersa May
Rory Stewart
What is Thatcherism also called?
‘The New right”
The advent of Thatcherism marked the ______ of the _______ ________ and the rise of a more _________ _________.
The advent of Thatcherism marked the death of the postwar consensus and the rise of a more adversarial politics
Thatcher referred to those who were not prepared to sign up to this agenda, in many cases the old ________ Tories, as _____.
Thatcher referred to those who were not prepared to sign up to this agenda, in many cases the old one-nation Tories, as ‘wets’
Committed Thatcherites were referred to as ______ with Thatcher’s most loyal acolytes dubbed ___ ____ .
Committed Thatcherites were referred to as ‘dries’, with Thatcher’s most loyal acolytes dubbed ‘ultra dry’.
Prime Minister’s Question Time, which takes place each _______ in the House of Commons, is often seen as an example of the kind of adversarial, __ ___, politics where politicians constantly deride their opponents and dismiss everything suggested by them.
Prime Minister’s Question Time, which takes place each ** Wednesday** in the House of Commons, is often seen as an example of the kind of adversarial, ‘yah-boo’, politics where politicians constantly deride their opponents and dismiss everything suggested by them.
Whta is Yah-boo politics
Politics where politicians constantly deride their opponents and dismiss everything suggested by them.
List some key charteristic of One-nation conservatism
- It takes a pragmatic approach.
-It advocates incremental change. - It is paternalistic.
- It favours a mixed economy.
List some key charteristic of Thatcherism conservatism
-It is dogmatic.
-It advocates radical change.
- It is individualistic.
- It favours a free-market economy.
Give some key charteristic of Old Labour.
-It is dogmatic.
-It is predominantly the party of the working class.
-It is interventionist.
-It favours public sector provision.
-It advocates social justice.
-It supports universal welfare.
Give some key charteristics on New Labour
-It takes a pragmatic approach.
-It markets itself as a catch-all party, not limited to the working class.
-It favours a market economy.
-It favours public–private partnerships.
-It advocates social inclusion.
-It supports targeted welfare.
Why did Ed Miliband struggle to get a coalition in 2015
Dubbed ‘Red Ed’ by the media, due in large part to the fact that his narrow victory over his brother in the election to become Labour leader had relied so heavily on the backing of the trade unions, Ed Miliband struggled to establish a coalition
When did Gorden Brown become leader?
2007
Why did Corbyn struggle to command the support of the back benches?
Corbyn’s ideological positioning and track record as a rebellious backbencher made it difficult for him
