political parties Flashcards
(8 cards)
what is one-nation conservatism?
A development from traditional conservatism was one-nation coservatism, originally associated with one of the party’s most colorful leaders, Benjamin Disraeli( Prime minister 1868 and 1874-1880).
what is Thatcherism and the New right?
Margaret Thatcher gave her name to a more sharply ideological form of converatism, ‘Thatcherism’ was linked intellectually with the rise of a school of thought known as the new right. it sought to reduce state intervention in the economy, while restoring order to society in the face of rising challenges from militant trade unions and other groups on the left.
what themes did ‘Thatcherism’ cover?
- control of public spending, combined with tax cuts to provide incentives for business leaders and to stimulate economic growth
- privatisation of industries and services taken into state ownership to promote improvement and wider consumer choice through competition
- legal limits on the power of trade unions to deter industrial action
- a tough approach to law and order, with increased police and judicial powers.
- assertion of British interests abroad, in relation to the challenges posed by the soviet union and other external threats
- a desire to protect national sovereignty against the growth of the European community
what is old labour and social democracy?
the defeat of the last ‘old labour’ prime minister, james callaghan, at the 1979 general election, heralded a division between moderate socail democrats and more left-wing elements, who captured the party under the leadership of Michael Foot. Labour lost the 1983 election on a hand-line socialist programme calling for further nationalisation, increased taxation and spending, the spending, the abolition of britain’s nuclear defences and withdrawl from the European Economic Community, which left viewed as a capitalist organisation.
key features of the new labour in power
- emphasis on wealth creation rather than redistrution
- people need to be aware of their responsibilities to the community as well as thier rights
- responsibility in handling the national finances
- enlisting the public sector to deliver services
- influence of liberal ideology on labour thinking
from liberals to liberal democracy
The Liberal democracy party was founded in 1988 but is descended from a much older political grouping, its distant ancestors were the whigs, an aristocratic faction who originated in the 17th century as opponents of the Tories. In the mid-19th century they joined with a variety of middle- and working-class supporters of political and social change to form the liberal party.
classical liberals
they were committed above all to the freedom of the individual and wanted the state to play a minimal role in society. In the 19th century this expressed itself in support for free trade, the widening of the franchise, the extension of civil liverties to people who did not belong to the established Anglican Church, and teh widening of educational opportunity.
liberal democratic
the liberal democratic share of the vote grew modestly and in teh 1997 eletion - aided by popular disillusionment with the conservatives and careful targeting of seats - this translated into a parliamentary total of 46. Tactial voting was also a factor - this is the practice of not voting for your prefered candidate, but using your vote to prevent another candidate from winning
