Voting behaviour and the media Flashcards
what is partisanship?
Voters may choose to support a party because they strongly identify with that party.
what is the problem with partisan dealignment?
There has been partisan dealignment in the UK recently where voters have stopped identifying themselves with a particular party and have instead become floating voters who could vote for a number of parties. Disillusion and apathy explain the loss of party appeal to voters. It means that voters have become disengaged in politics and lack confidence in politicians to be able to solve important issues.
traditionally how has social class influenced who citizens voted for?
working class people supporting the Labour Party and the middle classes voting for the Conservatives.
what has happened with class dealignment?
Class dealignment has taken place, with fewer voters identifying themselves as much with a specific political class. So, social class has less influence on voting. This can be explained by the increase in the size of the UK’s middle class, the decline in trade union power, the privatisation of industries and greater educational opportunities.
what is governing competency?
how voters perceive the ability of each party to run the country effectively which can influence voting decisions
what has partisan dealignment caused?
floating voters
why was age very important in the 2017 general election?
most young people supporting Labour and most older voters supporting the Conservatives.
in 1997 what percentages of skilled and unskilled working class votes did labour win?
50% of the skilled working class vote
59% of the unskilled working class vote
reasons for the class dealignment in the UK
Increase in the size of the middle class
Decline in trade union power
Privatisation of industries
Which event in 1979 contributed to the fall of the Labour government?
winter of discontent
Which event in 1992 damaged the Tory party reputation for economic management?
black Wednesday
Inflation and unemployment
stagflation
