Week 5: Political preference

Question 1

What are political preferences?

Answer 1

Attitudes and preferences of individuals or groups toward political parties, candidates, policies, and issues that shape voting decisions and support for political agendas.

Question 2

How does class traditionally influence political preferences?

Answer 2

Lower-class individuals are more likely to favour redistribution and vote for left-wing parties, while higher-class individuals favour a laissez-faire economy and vote for right-wing parties.

Question 3

what is Laissez-faire economy?

Answer 3

An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention.

Question 4

What major shift has occurred in class voting patterns over time?

Answer 4

The link between class and voting choices has weakened due to factors like deindustrialization, changes in the party system, and post-industrial transformations.

Question 5

What is Conservative laissez-faire economic policy

Answer 5

• advocates for minimal got intervention in the economy (e.g. lower taxes, deregulation, privatisation, and free market emphasis)

Question 6

Why do some higher class now also turn to some Labour’s policy

Answer 6

Higher class have more ED thus progressive attitudes they are appealed to Labour’s progressive policies

Question 7

What is the bi-dimensional political spectrum?

Answer 7

A political spectrum with two dimensions: the traditional economic left/right cleavage and a cultural dimension distinguishing libertarian Green Parties from authoritarian radical-right parties

Question 8

what do radical right parties support?

Answer 8

Strong anti-establishment discourse against mainstream politics -> populism, oppose migrants (anti-islam), cultural issues and national identity

Question 9

what do green parties support?

Answer 9

environmental issues, human rights, social justice, democracy, peace

Question 10

Who is Ronald Inglehart, and what is his theory?

Answer 10

focuses on post-materialism, suggesting that societies would become more equal and focus on issues like freedom of speech and gender equality. He noted a counter-trend with rising distrust in globalization.

Question 11

what is Inglehart’s Scarcity Hypothesis?

Answer 11

people’s values are shaped by their environment, especially during their formative years. When resources are scarce, people prioritize materialist values. Conversely, in times of abundance, they focus on post-materialist concerns.

Question 12

what is the difference between materialist and post-materialist values?

Answer 12

Materialist Values prioritise economic and physical security (seen in developing country with lack of resources)
Post materialist emphasise self-expression, environmental protection, quality of life, and participatory democracy (seen in developed countries)

Question 13

What is Inglehart’s Socialisation Hypothesis

Answer 13

Younger generations growing up in conditions of economic stability and security are more likely to adopt post-materialist values than older generations.

Question 14

What are the primary reasons lower-class individuals now support radical-right parties?

Answer 14

Economic insecurities, political distrust, and cultural factors such as nativism and fear of multiculturalism as a threat.

Question 15

How does education affect political preferences?

Answer 15

Higher education correlates with support for progressive parties and positive attitudes toward immigration due to increased awareness of issues like climate change and cultural diversity.

Question 16

What is the “competitive threat” model in attitudes towards immigration?

Answer 16

A theory suggesting economic and cultural fears drive anti-immigrant attitudes, such as labor market competition and fear of losing national identity.

Question 17

How do socialisation agents influence political preferences?

Answer 17

Agents like family, schools, and media shape political attitudes through direct transmission of values and exposure to ideas, often reinforcing existing beliefs or echo chambers.

Question 18

What is “Marital Homogamy” and its political relevance?

Answer 18

The tendency to choose partners with similar socioeconomic backgrounds, reinforcing political preferences within households.

Question 19

How does education contribute to libertarian attitudes?

Answer 19

Education fosters psychological security, cultural tolerance, and cognitive sophistication, which contribute to openness towards immigrants and progressive policies.

Question 20

What role does economic evaluation play in anti-immigrant attitudes?

Answer 20

• Egocentric view: how will immigration affects me directly -> their job and income
• Socioeconomic view: how will it affect the economy and society as a whole -> loss of culture and national identity, loss of welfare, HC benefits, resoures, etc.

Question 21

What is “nativism,” and how does it relate to political preferences?

Answer 21

Nativism combines nationalism and xenophobia, often leading to support for radical-right parties due to cultural fears and opposition to immigration.

Question 22

How do higher-educated individuals differ from lower-educated individuals in their voting patterns in the UK?

Answer 22

Higher-educated individuals tend to support progressive parties like Labour, while lower-educated individuals are more likely to support conservative parties.

Question 23

What is the “silent counter-revolution,” and how does it contrast with post-materialism?

Answer 23

The silent counter-revolution refers to the rise of radical-right parties and distrust in globalisation, opposing the optimistic, equality-focused trends predicted by post-materialism.

Question 24

What impact has deindustrialization had on political preferences?

Answer 24

It reduced the size of the working class, weakened traditional labor-party affiliations, and increased support for radical-right parties among economically insecure individuals.

Question 25

How do primary and secondary socialisation groups differ in political influence?

Answer 25

Primary groups like family and friends shape foundational political attitudes, while secondary groups like schools and media reinforce or expand these beliefs through broader social exposure.

Question 26

What is the relationship between education and attitudes toward climate change?

Answer 26

Higher-educated individuals are more aware of and concerned about environmental issues, leading to stronger support for Green parties and progressive climate policies.