Politics : Component 1 : Voting Behaviour And The Media

Front 1

What was the impact of party polcies and manifestos on the outcome of the 1979 general election?

Back 1

Moderated manifestos by labour and conservatives. High priority to bringing inflation down. Thatcher showed little sign of intended move to right - privatisation and removal of state.

Front 2

What was the impact of the election campaign on the outcome of the 1979 general election?

Back 2

Conservatives used modern advertising under guidance of Gordon Reece and Tim Bell - picture opportunities - Callaghan better when voters' asked - Thatcher turned down televised debate

Front 3

What was the impact of the wider poltical context on the outcome of the 1979 general election?

Back 3

Weak minority labour government, defeat in Commons, 1978 winter of discontent, strikes, failure to control militant trade unions, lost referendums - Tories offered new direction

Front 4

What was the impact of party polcies and manifestos on the outcome of the 1997 general election?

Back 4

Blair + new labour - abandoned nationalisation, tax increases and strong trade unions - tough on law and order - support of The Sun and The Times - emphasis on constitutional reform

Front 5

What was the impact of the election campaign on the outcome of the 1997 general election?

Back 5

New labour employed public-relations experts to handle the media + focus groups + targeted marginal seats - declining in opinion polls

Front 6

What was the impact of the wider political context on the outcome of the 1997 general election?

Back 6

Tories inflicted self damage after narrow 1992 GE win, catastrophe of 'Black Wednesday ' 1992, no support for Tories who lost reputation as effecient managers of the economy - sexual scandals, sleaze and EU uncertainty

Front 7

What was the impact of party policies and manifestos on the outcome of the 2010 general election?

Back 7

Little difference between manifestos of main 3 parties - wanted to reduce £163 billion deficit w/o sacrificing public services - Tories attacked labour's handling of the economy

Front 8

What was the impact of the election campaign on the outcome of the 2010 general election?

Back 8

Televised debates - Gordon Brown did badly, overheard saying 'bigoted women', Clegg did well in TV debates, little effect of Tory campaign to claim marginal seats

Front 9

What was the impact of the wider political context on the outcome of the 2010 general election?

Back 9

Brown delayed general election so didn't claim 'personal mandate' , 2008 financial crisis, bad portrayal in media

Front 10

Up to the 1970s, what was the impact of class on voting behaviour?

Back 10

Working class - manual labour, trade unions, heavy industry - Labour

Middle class - white-collar workers, property owners - Conservatives

Front 11

What is class dealignment?

Back 11

Individuals no longer identity themselves as belonging to a certain class and don't vote for the party they're expected to

Front 12

Why has class dealignment occured?

Back 12

Society has become more affluent, the differences between people have become less visible

Front 13

What is partisan dealignment?

Back 13

Process where individuals no longer identify themselves on a long-term basis as being associated with a certain political party

Front 14

Who is more likely to vote?

Back 14

Members with more at stake financially, home owners and higher social classes

Front 15

Why have people become less likely to identity with one political party?

Back 15

Less loyalty linked by family tradition and local work/community - floating voters - disillusion and apathy

Front 16

What is apathy?

Back 16

Lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern

Front 17

What is rational choice theory?

Back 17

Idea that voters behave like consumers, deciding how to vote by evaluating what is the most beneficial option for them as individuals

Front 18

What is rational choice theory linked to?

Back 18

Growth of more educated electorate with more access to political information due to the rise of the internet

Front 19

How have skilled workers voted across general elections since 1979?

Back 19

Thatcher 1979 - populist and disenchanted with labour incompetence

Transferred to new labour in 1997 due to failures of Major

Abandoned in 2010 after financial crisis and recession

Front 20

What is governing competency?

Back 20

Perceived ability of the governing party in office to manage affairs of state effectively + applies the way voters regard the potential competency of the opposition

Front 21

What is the economic voting model?

Back 21

Voters more likely to support a governing part of its managed the economy successfully or the party is likely to deliver economic prosperity - feel good factor

Front 22

How have women historically been likely to vote?

Back 22

Conservative - favoured a stable society and emphasis on society

Front 23

Why did gender voting happens lessen by the Blair era?

Back 23

Younger women more likely to vote labour as they were as likely to work and labour increased family friendly policies

Front 24

How are old people likely to vote?

Back 24

Tory - own property, remember the domination of trade unions over Labour, Cameron refused to cut pensions, don't aspire for social change

Front 25

How are ethnic minorities likely to vote?

Back 25

Labour - focus on multi-cultural and anti-discrimination agenda, also have lower turnout, exception are Asian voter who support Tory focus on small businesses

Front 26

How does region affect voters?

Back 26

South (except London) and rural areas with high levels on employment and home ownership vote Conservative

North and industrial areas vote Labour

Front 27

What is the role of newspapers in politics?

Back 27

Declined due to rise of new media but still read online, journalists still quoted and interviewed, set agenda.

Front 28

What is the role of television in politics?

Back 28

Dominate election coverage, TV debates, 9.6 million watched 2010 leaders debates

Front 29

What is the role of opinion polls in politics?

Back 29

Ipsos MORI, Populus and YouGov aim to gauge popularity of political parties, exit polls to predict outcome, not always accurate - shy Tories and 'boomerang effect'

Front 30

What is the role of the internet in politics?

Back 30

Little impact in 1990s, but 82% of households had internet access in 2010 election - most MPs have their own websites and established media outlets have their own websites

Front 31

What is the role of social media in politics?

Back 31

Facebook and Twitter - success of Obama in 2012 US election, 2015 election campaign - Tories spent £100'000 per month on Facebook advertising - target young voters

Front 32

What is the debate around the media in a democratic society?

Back 32

Free media plays essential role in a healthy democracy to hold government to account, especially at time of weak opposition, but popular newspapers present bias simplified interpretation of issues

Front 33

What is the debate around media bias and political parties?

Back 33

Newspapers are partisan and will alter allegiance in response to changing circumstances

Television is less biased - BBC charter insists political neutrality

Websites and social media is unregulated so likely biased

Front 34

How much influence do the media have on the public?

Back 34

Winning party at election supported by majority of press

Shape political agenda, 62% of respondents cited television as strongest influence in 2015 election, media portrays leaders in certain light

Front 35

What are the limits of media influence on the public?

Back 35

People read newspapers that broadly reflect their outlook

Electronic media reinforces attitudes