Political Cleavages
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What are cleavages?
A clear division, a social conflict
Characteristics of cleavages
• Social Division: 2 groups need to be distinguished • Collective Identity: act on the group aim’s basis • Institutionally Represented
Types Centre Periphery
· Origin: state formation · Centre: standardise laws · Periphery: preserve autonomy & local essence Spain: ECR / Basque National Party UK: SNP
Types Church State
· Origin: state formation · Catholics: follow the Pope by creating an environment to prevent state penetration · Protestants: part of the state’s agents (doing what the state wants religiously) NL: CDA Germany: Christian Democratic/Social Union (CDU/CSU) Italy: DC
Types Rural Urban
· Origin: industrial revolution · Rural: agriculture · Urban: urbanisationn NL: BBB Poland: PLP
Types Class
· Origin: industrial revolution · WC: rights and better conditions · MD: exploit and get benefits In states where the government acted for the working class (socialist parties) UK: Labour NL: PvdA Spain: PSOE Germany: Social Dem. Party In states where the government didn’t act for the working class (communist/left parties) Spain: Podemos NL: SP Germany: DieLinke
By what are Party Systems influenced?
By cleavages and electoral systems
Party Families (3)
Help to identify/classify parties within the political system based on 1. Origin 2. Cooperation 3. Ideology
Within the Left-Right Dimension parties are position based on
Economic - left: state intervention (higher taxes) - right: no state intervention (privatisation) Culture - liberal: promotion of rights - authoritarian: the state controlling rights
How is a party’s position calculated?
It is calculated based on the degree of fragmentation (to what extent are parties present in the systems) and the degree of polarisation (ideological distance)
Types of systems (3)
2 party system: UK (2 main political parties) Multiparty system: many parties within the political landscape (Spain) Polarised Multiparty system: many parties and clear division between left-right (Sweden)
Developments of the state (4)
• Welfare state • Mobility • Communication • Education
What is Realignment?
When a system realigns its values due to a shift in patterns *ongoing debate as for whether realignment is caused by globalisation or voting behaviour
Realignment & PM
PM has reinforced realignment since there is an increase in social, environmental and cultural importance · younger generations don’t grow up with war threats · greater stability and materials · increase in cognitive mobility green parties
Downsides of Realignment & PM (3)
• values fluctuate over time • PM values result from education • Is the model measuring values or the cultural dimension?
Electoral Realignment
Occurs when voters change their behaviour and vote for other parties. - creation and collapse of parties
Globalisation & Realignment
It has led to a greater interconnected and open world BUT - increased immigration - shift in traditional cultures - winners vs losers
What is Dealignment?
Is the change in loyalties in voters leading to a decrease in participatory voting. - voters don’t identify with parties
Causes to Dealignment (3)
• Increased cognitive mobilisation has eroded old attachments without creating new ones • Critical citizens approaching politics more confidently • Communication / SM
What are Valence Voters?
Those who choose a party/candidate based on performance
What are Floating Voters?
Those who don’t identify with a party are more likely to shift votes.
Types of voters & democracy
Yes: increases democratic accountability, engages voters and responsiveness from political parties NO: parties manipulate voters, populism