Unit 1 Political Theory And Unit 2 Political Parties & Elections

Question 1

What is the open face of power

Answer 1

Power that people who make decisions have. Called open face because it’s transparent; can be seen when power is being exercised and when a decision is being made

Question 2

What is the secret face?

Answer 2

When an agenda is being set and a decision is taken off the table. Not always apparent who is exercising this power as often happens behind closed door

Question 3

What is the deceptive face?

Answer 3

The ability to shape whag someone things they want or need that may go agaist their best interests. Most insidious face of power.

Question 4

What is power?

Answer 4

Ability to get someone to do something they might not otherwise do. The ability to influence behaviour of others

Question 5

What is authority?

Answer 5

Rightful power - power combined with legitimacy

Question 6

What is legitimacy

Answer 6

Sense of rightfulness - the right to have power over others

Question 7

What is traditional authority?

Answer 7

Depends on belief in established customs and traditions those in authority expect obedience on grounds that established customs and traditions demand it

Question 8

What is charismatic authority

Answer 8

People chose to obey leaders based on special qualities or characteristics of an individual. Usually dies with individual.

Question 9

What is rational legal authority?

Answer 9

Comes from ballot box and has the confidence to leave leaders to undertake decisions and set policy after winning a free and fair election.

Question 10

What is representative democracy

Answer 10

Electing individuals to make decisions on your behalf. Widely believed to be most effective form or democracy

Question 11

What is direct democracy

Answer 11

A form of democracy in which people directly vote on government policies. Different from the majority of established democracies.

Question 12

Benefits of representative democracy

Answer 12

• EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
  Govs in representative democracies often led by experts in law and economics. Which has broadly worked well in uk
• ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMPROMISE
  Common people distanced from politics so elected people can more easily find common ground in which to make compromises. Govs can be held accountable by elected representatives and the media
• PRACTICALITY
  it is more practical to elect representatives with 45 million people eligible to vote in UK

Question 13

Negatives of representative democracy

Answer 13

• EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
  Critics say we create a system that ends up being led by self-serving politicians.
• ACCOUNTABILITY & COMPROMISE
  lead to under-representation of certain groups. Majority of representatives ‘pale, male and stale’
• PRACTICALITY
  In the 21st century increased referenda is necessary to improve democracy because turnout has been so high. The interest from the public has been so intense and has the public discussing politics in a way which hasn’t been seen before

Question 14

Examples of benefits of representative democracy

Answer 14

• EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
  Rishi Sunak and former PM David Cameron both studied Philosophy, politics and economics
• ACCOUNTABILITY & COMPROMISE
  In 2019 Boris Johnson called a snap General Election and won a majority with 365 sears so he could then pass his Brexit deal, claiming to have a legitimate mandate from the British people.
• PRACTICALITY
  Over 45 million eligible to vote in UK

Question 15

Examples of negatives of representative democracy

Answer 15

• EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
  • Mps expense scandal 2009 where politics were using taxpayer money for lavish items.
  • over 20 pms attended Eton college
• ACCOUNTABILITY & COMPROMISE
  Only ever been 3 female pms.
  -PRACTICALITY
  Turnout for eu referendum was 72%, while the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was around 84%. Significantly more than General election turnouts which are normally around 65%

Question 16

Benefits of direct democracy

Answer 16

• INCREASED CONTROL
  Genuinely democracy in action as it increases control ‘the purest form of democracy’
• MORE INFORMED CITIZENS
  People encouraged to be more politically informed in order to make decisions. This should create a more politically informed society.
• GREATER LEGITMACY
  People more likely to accept decisions they have made themselves, increasing legitimacy.

Question 17

Negatives of direct democracy

Answer 17

• INCREASED CONTROL
  Impractical, over 45 mill people eligible to vote in UK, fewer than 50,000 had right to vote in Athens ancient Greece
• MORE INFORMED CITIZENS
  Public would become bored of constant civic duty to vote.
• GREATER LEGITIMACY
  Increased political instability because citizens are given a binary choice in a very complicated political issue

Question 18

Examples of benefits of direct democracy

Answer 18

• INCREASED CONTROL
  Opportunities for citizens to make political decisions directly happen regularly in Switzerland and California. Very significant changes such as euthanasia clinics being legalised in Switzerland have happened.
• MORE INFORMED CITIZENS
  84% voted in 2014 and 72% in 2016 EU referendum
• GREATER LEGITIMACY
  Referenda on devolution in 1997 and on scottish independence in 2014. Giving opportunities to vote on huge issues like this enhances democracy in the uk and allows governments to make legitimate decisions afterwards

Question 19

Examples of negatives of direct democracy

Answer 19

• INCREASED CONTROL
  Over 45 mill have right to vote in UK. Fewer than 50,000 male citizens gad right to vote in Athens in Ancient Greece.
• MORE INFORMED CITIZENS
  Participation results in UK general elections rarely exceed 70%, Scottish elections less than 60%
• GREATER LEGITIMACY
  When 52% of the UK electorate voted to leave the EU in 2016 many who voted ‘remain’ argued we needed a confirmatory ‘people’s vote’ on the details of the deal as many weren’t sure what Brexit would mean in practice.

Question 20

What did plato argue about democracy?

Answer 20

The common people do not know what is best for them, so it is better to have well educated people to take control of the government and lead the ‘masses’

Question 21

Example of open face

Answer 21

• smoking ban passed by msps in scotland in 2006
• marriage (same sex couples) act passed in 2014
These examples SHOW how people can openly campaign on issues then politicians can put these into law if a majority agree.

Question 22

Example of secret face

Answer 22

The Conservative government from 1979-1997 didn’t allow Scottish people a chance to vote on devolution as the tories were agaist this.

Question 23

Examples of deceptive face

Answer 23

Tony Blair claimed there was strong evidence to justify the invasion of Iraq in 2003 but was later revealed that this was not the case. Leading to claims the evidence had been manipulated in order to change public opinion.

Question 24

What type of authority are the 3 faces of power connected to

Answer 24

Open face - rational legal
Secret face - traditional
Deceptive face - charismatic

Question 25

Negatives of the 3 types of authority

Answer 25

• CHARISMATIC
  Once a leader dies or leaves office a power vacuum is left. This can be a dangerous type of authority because there is often a power struggle between different factions within a country and can lead to civil was. FOR EXAMPLE, when Colon Gaddafi was killed in the Arab spring of 2011, the country spiralled into bloody conflict and is still effectively lawless.
• RATIONAL LEGAL
  There are almost 200 countries and only 87 are full democracies. Suggesting that the majority of sovereign states have different forms of democracies. FOR EXAMPLE, China accounts for about a fifth of the global population and has a very effective system of traditional authority whereby it is set to overtake the usa as the biggest economy
• TRADITIONAL
  There are very few of these in the world today. This type of authority is not as relevant as others. Traditional authorities are diminishing as the public wants to be able to hold leaders to account. FOR EXAMPLE the pressure group Republic campaigns to have the monarchy abolished

Question 26

What is the rational choice voting system

Answer 26

Relates to what some might describe as ‘short term factors’

Question 27

What are the factors for the rational choice model?

Answer 27

• SELF INTEREST
  concerned with the way in which people vote based on their own rational self-interest .
• ISSUE VOTING
  Voting based on issues that are important to you. Linked to this was the rise of ukip on 2015. They successfully portrayed immigration as cause of problems in those areas.
• LEADERS IMAGE
  Voting based on the perception of a leader. Voters know their vote will have an impact on who becomes FM or PM so leaders characteristics really matter as british politics become more presidential in style.

Question 28

Examples of effectiveness of rational choice model

Answer 28

• SELF INTEREST
  • In 2010 and 2015 the economy was identified as the most important issue in the minds of voters, do David Camerons long term economic plan helped him win on both occasions.
  • Tony Blair and Gordon Brown used PFI schemes to build schools and hospitals rather than raising tax, therefore many ‘rationally’ blamed them for mismanaging the country’s finances.
• ISSUE VOTING
  • almost 4 million voted for UKIP in 2015. HOWEVER, UKIP only won 1 seat in 2015 because of the first past the post electoral system.
  • In 2019 conservatives won 365 out of 600 votes due to their promise to ‘get brexit done’.
• LEADERS IMAGE
  • In 2015 only 27% of people thought Miliband would be a capable pm compared to 42% for Cameron. Image voting often driven by right wing press whe portrayed Miliband as geeky and incompetent: ‘Save Our Bacon’ in the sun and wallace and growing comparisons. HOWEVER, Jeremy corbyn faced similar treatment in the lead up to the snap 2017 General Election and didn’t do as badly as Miliband.

Question 29

What is the party ID model?

Answer 29

This model places heavy stress on early political socialisation. Many vote the way ‘their family votes’ as they have been influenced by family at an early stage and political loyalties have formed. This model was stronger historically, particularly in the 1950s and 60s when than there were fewer ‘floating voters’. However, it would be inaccurate to say that it is no longer relevant to contemporary elections, but it is no longer as influential as it once was.

Question 30

What are the factors for the Party ID model?

Answer 30

• THE CONSERVATIVE & UNIONIST PARTY
  Promotes traditional values and lower taxation. Historically gained support from middle and upper classes.
• THE LABOUR PARTY
  Formed in the early 1900s to represent working class people. Collectivist ideology appealed to less wealthy in society.
• SNP
  Natural party for people who want scottish independence. Lost image of ‘Tartan tories’ and become a self proclaimed progressive left wing social democratic party.

Question 31

Examples of effectiveness for Party ID model

Answer 31

• THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
  • FOR: In 2017 and 2019 46% and 45% of social classes A and B voted Conservative.
  • AGAINST: 1992 Conservative party gained 52% of voters from ABC1 voters, whereas in 1997 share fell to 39% demonstrating how wealthier people can become ‘floating voters’ and don’t always stick to the tories
• LABOUR PARTY
  • FOR: In every general election since world war 2 until 2017, the Labour Party has had the majority of the vote from people in social classes D and E.
  • AGAINST: Labour only won 1 seat in Edinburgh South in the 2015 election and for first time since ww2 the Conservatives also won more votes across every social class than Labour.
• SNP
  • FOR: the collectivist policies of free university, free prescriptions were popular with Scottish voters in 2015. Explaining why they have won every Scottish Parliament election since 2007
  • AGAINST: In 2017 snap General Election Scottish electorate appeared to turn away from SNP due to obsession with 2nd independence referendum. Scottish Conservatives campaigned agaist this. For example, Kristen Oswald lost her East Renfrewshire seat to the Conservative Paul Masterton.

Question 32

What is the sociological model of voting behaviour?

Answer 32

Concerned with what some may explain as ‘long term’ factors influencing voting behaviour

Question 33

What are the factors for the sociological model?

Answer 33

• SOCIAL CLASS
  There was strong evidence in the past that voters would favour a party according to their social class. With middle class more likely to support conservatives and working classes favouring labour. “Social class was is the basis of party politics; everything else is just embellishment and detail” Peter Pulzer
• AGE
  Age determines not only who a person might vote for but also if they can/will. Younger voters tend to be more radical supporting welfare and good public services. Elderly voters more likely to vote for individualist parties with traditional values and low taxation.
• RACE/ETHNICITY
  Ethnic minorities more likely to be in poverty than white people so more inclined to vote collectivist parties like labour.

Question 34

Examples of effectiveness of sociological model

Answer 34

• SOCIAL CLASS
  • FOR: In the 2014 scottish independence referendum 4 of the most deprived areas in Scotland all voted Yes whereas Middle class areas like East Renfrewshire overwhelming voted No.
  • AGAINST: Class dealignment saw 4 million vote for UKIP in 2015. Additionally many lower class voted Conservative because of their stance on Brexit. Despite many arguing social classes CDE would be disadvantaged by effects of leaving EU
• AGE
  • FOR: In the 2019 election 64% of over 65s voted Conservative compared to 62% of 18-24 who voted Labour.
  • AGAINST: Younger people often vote for who their parents vote for and perhaps aren’t as radical as suggested. Young people also less likely to vote.
• RACE/ETHNICITY
  FOR: In the 2019, 64% of minority ethnic groups voted Labour
  However may be because of social class rather than race as minority ethnic groups are more socially Conservative.

Question 35

What are the factors for modern technology?

Answer 35

• SOCIAL MEDIA
  Social media is becoming one of the most important factors influencing voting behaviour. With so many voters - particularly young people using it, parties have to take their message online to maximise exposure and get their message across to a broader section of the electorate.
• VOTER TARGETING SOFTWARE
  Arguably most important weapon
  used by SNP when campaigning for voters. The nationalists have a system called ‘Activate’ which is essentially a database which tells activists what particular towns steets and voters they should target by using an app that points them to the doors they should knock on when canvassing
• TV AND THE INTERNET
  PPB are part of election campaign strategies which all parties have a chance to use. Normally after the news at 6pm and 10pm. In 2015 Labour used an actor, Martain Freeman to promote visions for country.

Question 36

Examples of effectiveness of modern technology

Answer 36

• SOCIAL MEDIA
  • FOR: In 2015 conservatives spent £1.2 million on facebook campaigning, while labour spent £16,000. By 2017 all parties had increased spending. Showing the importance of campaigning on social media
  • AGAINST: Many commentators argue grassroots campaigns are more important as it is difficult to target new voters as social media creates echo Chambers due to targeted algorithms. Kristen Oswald said she often ‘felt like she was talking to herself in the mirror’ while on social media
• VOTER TARGETING SOFTWARE
  • FOR: This method no doubt helped them win 56 of the 59 scottish seats in the UK general election in 2015
  AGAINST: Raises ethical questions about data held by political parties and whether it is kept securely. Additionally, success of the snp may not be due to software but instead message. In 2015 the party campaigned on a ‘stronger for scotland’ message
• TV AND THE INTERNET
  • FOR: Nicola sturgeon cam across particularly well in the 2015 debates against Cameron and Miliband.
  • AGAINST
  It is doubtful anyone would change their minds politically after a well choreographed debate or a short tv broadcast. A survey by ipsos mori revealed that over 70% of voters said they would rather pay their household bills than watch a PPB.

Question 37

Factors for media campaigning

Answer 37

• SOCIAL MEDIA
  Social media is becoming one of the most important factors influencing voting behaviour. With so many voters - particularly young people using it, parties have to take their message online to maximise exposure and get their message across to a broader section of the electorate.
• TV AND THE INTERNET
  PPB are part of election campaign strategies which all parties have a chance to use. Normally after the news at 6pm and 10pm. In 2015 Labour used an actor, Martain Freeman to promote visions for country.
• NEWSPAPERS
  With millions of people still reading newspapers every day newspapers can help political parties get their message across while also attacking opposition parties they don’t want to win.

Question 38

Example of effectiveness of media campaigning

Answer 38

• SOCIAL MEDIA
  • FOR: In 2015 conservatives spent £1.2 million on facebook campaigning, while labour spent £16,000. By 2017 all parties had increased spending. Showing the importance of campaigning on social media
  • AGAINST: Many commentators argue grassroots campaigns are more important as it is difficult to target new voters as social media creates echo Chambers due to targeted algorithms. Kristen Oswald said she often ‘felt like she was talking to herself in the mirror’ while on social media
• TV AND THE INTERNET
  • FOR: Nicola sturgeon cam across particularly well in the 2015 debates against Cameron and Miliband.
  • AGAINST
  It is doubtful anyone would change their minds politically after a well choreographed debate or a short tv broadcast. A survey by ipsos mori revealed that over 70% of voters said they would rather pay their household bills than watch a PPB
• NEWSPAPERS
  • FOR: The Sun is most widely read newspaper in the UK, and it often supports the Tories. Many believe newspapers were key factor in Ed Milibands failure in 2015 as The Sun depicted him struggling to eat a sandwich, with the headline ‘save our bacon’
  • AGAINST: Newspaper sales have been in decline for years now. For example, 45% voted Yes in 2014 yet only one newspaper (The Sunday Hearld) supporting the yes campaign

Question 39

Factors for traditional grassroots campaigning

Answer 39

NEWSPAPERS
With millions of people still reading newspapers every day newspapers can help political parties get their message across while also attacking opposition parties they don’t want to win.
- CANVASSING
This involves teams of volunteers knocking on doors, trying to persuade people to vote for their party and dropping leaflets highlighting key policies from their manifestos
- MOBILISATION
An important aspect of grassroot campaigning is successfully mobilising local turnout. Failure to do so will ensure party is unsuccessful in election. This involves getting people out to vote as well as utilising volunteers in constituencies to maximise chances of achieving success.

Question 40

Example of effectiveness of traditional grassroot campaigning

Answer 40

NEWSPAPERS
• FOR: The Sun is most widely read newspaper in the UK, and it often supports the Tories. Many believe newspapers were key factor in Ed Milibands failure in 2015 as The Sun depicted him struggling to eat a sandwich, with the headline ‘save our bacon’
• AGAINST: Newspaper sales have been in decline for years now. For example, 45% voted Yes in 2014 yet only one newspaper (The Sunday Hearld) supporting the yes campaign
- CANVASSING
• FOR: Conservatives made good use of volunteers in 2015 general election as they targeted 50 seats and defended another 50. They managed to gain 24 seats
• AGAINST: Places a lot of demand on party resources and reliant on having a large number of volunteers. If they are unsuccessful in indetifiying best areas this can be ineffective as forces parties to spread volunteers too thinly. In 2015 Labour targeted 106 seats and set a target or 5 million doors. Their electoral performance shows their tactics were unsuccessful.
- MOBILISATION
• FOR: Membership of SNP is at an all time high of 125,000 meaning SNP have an army of volunteers they can rely upon.
AGAINST: They lost their seat at last general election. Kirstin Oswold was replaced by Paul Masterton.
HOWEVER this still shows effectiveness of mobilisation as tories were able to get message of anti independence through it.