Voting Behaviour And The Media Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is class dealignment
Describes how the social classes are voting in far fewer numbers for the political party they used to traditionally vote for
What % of middle class between 1945 and 1970 voted conservative. What % of working class voted Labour
Middle class - 66%
Working class - 62%
Why has class dealignment become relevant
- The ‘traditional’ working class has declined
- The middle classes have expanded as the role of government has increased
- To what extent that voters are voting along class lines - reform stealing labour votes
- Working class voters have moved to SNP
Why has the traditional working class declined
Few workers are employed in heavy industry
Over 50% of workers are now in service industries
This increases standard of living
So many think they are in middle class
Why have middle classes expanded as the role of government has increased
Many more are employed in modestly paid jobs(social workers and teachers)
Many are unionised
However their pay has declined relative to many skilled manual workers
Why have working class voters in Scotland moved to SNP
Mainly caused by increasing levels nationalims with socialism during the referendum campaign of the 2015 election campaign
What is class alignment
Class alignment is the commitment of a particular social classes to a political party, meaning that they will vote for that party.
What are the three theories of voting
- Sociaogical model
- party identification model
- rational choice model
Describe the sociological models
- Voting behaviour linked to group membership/characteristics
- social class - ‘class is the basis of british party politics; all else is embellishment and detail’(Pulzer 1967)
Describe the party identification model
- voters develop psychological attachment to a party
- voters are like football fans - they support the ‘red team’ or ‘blue team’ and enjoy seeing them win
Describe the rational choice model
- voting is a rational act conducted on an individual basis
- individuals vote on basis of cost benefit analysis of effect of parties policies on their own self interest
- voters like consumers choosing product which will maximise their well-being
What is issue voting
- Voters place one issue above all others and base their vote on candidate/aprty position on that issue
What is valence voting
- typically where parties positions are similar(e.g. grow the economy), voters decide on the basis of perceived competency
- which party do you think is the most likely to govern well
What is a core voter
They support the same party from one election to the next
What is a floating voter
Who vote for different parties in different elections
Describe Margaret thatcher role in thee 1983 general election
- conservtive prime minister(1979-1990)
- won elections in 1979, 1983, 1987
- initially unpopular(Dec 1980- approval rating 23% - lowest ever for a PM)
- fortunes turned with the falklands war
What was micheal foots role in the 1983 election
- labour leader 1980-83
- known for strongly left wing poltical positions
- relentlessly attacked by right wing media including for his appearance
What did the Gang of Four role in 1983 election
- bill rogers, Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins, David Owen
- senior members of Labour Party who broke away and formed the social democratic party(SDP) in 1981 because they thought labour had moved to far left
What were the consequences of the falklands war
- increased patriotism
- beginning of personally cult of ‘maggie - the iron lady’ - cultivated by right-wing press
How many seats and majority did the conservtives get in 1983
397
Majority = 143
How did thatcher win the 1983 election
Falklands war- ‘Iron Lady’ and ‘cult of maggie’
How did labour lose 1993 election
Split in left wing votes - SDP
Labour manifesto - longest suicide note in history
Micheal foot and his donkey jacket
How was leadership a Kay factor in the 1997 election
Tony Blair - young, modern, energetic
John major - old, grey, weak
