Political Parties - Research Paper Example

Political Parties 1A. The categorization of voting behavior and its dimensions has a critical aspect of analysis and examination for political scientists and researchers who have aimed to establish the features or characteristics that can be attributed to the voting patterns of individuals. According to a comprehensive and large-scale study that has been conducted by the University of Michigan, the role of various dimensions in actually determining the extent to which the voter is influenced in his/her selection or choice of one candidate over the other is variable and dependent upon several elements (Campbell 67). This notion implies that when it comes to demonstrating support for a candidate, partisan attitudes can be seen as a reflection of the elements which exist and prevail in the political environment. For example, in a majority of scenarios the information that an individual obtains as a consequence of face-to-face communication with members of the family, friend’s group and co-workers can be recognized as a factor which is responsible for shaping voter behavior, especially with regards to presidential politics (67). An important aspect of this discussion encompasses the analysis which aims to classify each of the current dimensions in accordance with their association with the external environment or even various internal factors. In this case, any interaction with peers or family members that either strengthens or weakens a voter’s behavior can be linked with the psychological elements rather than the forces which formulate the attitude of a partisan (Campbell 67). The underlying notion which is present in the preceding discussion outlines six distinct dimensions which govern the voting behavior of individuals. These factors can be distributed as: 1) the personal characteristics of the leader who presently holds office 2) the personal characteristics of the opponent 3) the agencies and bodies which are a part of the political process and the notion of group’s interests which has a potential to impact them 4) the problems which surround the formulation of domestic policy 5) the problems which surround the formulation of foreign policy and 6) the comparative performance of the political parties which have been responsible for administrating and implementing government policies (Campbell 67). The degree to which the formulation of such dimensions on which voter behavior is based has the ability to determine, influence and even predict an individual’s support for one political party over the other can be associated with the role of the individual in either accepting or refuting the principles of on which these dimensions are based. The determination of this component of voting behavior yet again sheds light on the significance of psychological forces that are present in this case. This notion implies that a voter’s intensity of feeling for the personal characteristics of a specific candidate is in fact a psychological factor. As seen in the American presidential elections of 1956, the research conducted by the University of Michigan reports that those individuals who had developed an unfavorable picture of Eisenhower chose the Democrats over Republics in a majority of cases (Campbell 68). This observation reaffirms the unparalleled significance of the psychological dimension of voting behavior which is rooted the cognitive map of the voter and how he perceives the things with which the decision to vote for one candidate and not the other is related (Campbell 42). 1B. There are several determinants which are responsible for governing an individual’s participation in politics and the democratic process itself. Perhaps, the most significant set of determinants which can be identified as being critical to an individual’s decision for choosing to vote or not to vote is that of the socioeconomic factors. The socioeconomic determinants can be categorized as: education, wealth and occupation (Political Science 692). The key influence of these factors with regards to an individual’s participation in the democratic process is rooted in the determinant of education, which can be identified as a feature which has the greatest impact on voting decisions. This view simply implies that an educated person is more likely to embrace the status of a voter in comparison with a person who has acquired no or little education (Political Science 692). The reasons behind this observation are that educated individuals amongst other things possess knowledge regarding the functioning of the democratic process, the working of the system and the ways in which the system can be transformed so as to empower the common man (Political Science 692). As a consequence educated people realize that participation in elections is in fact important if they wish to transform the state of affairs of a nation and intend to prosper and emerge as a successful society. With regards to the possession of wealth, it has been observed that wealthier individuals constitute of a greater percentage of voters because they have ownership of resources that can allow them to demonstrate an active participation in the political arena (Political Science 692). Similarly, the influence of occupation in association with voting suggests that unemployed individuals are least likely to participate in the democratic process while, people who are performing their duties as managers or under other professions are more likely to value the power of the vote and venture out to polling booths on election day. Even though, the socioeconomic differences amongst voters and non-voters are clearly observable and evident by statistical data it should be stated that there are several other factors which also play a critical role in governing the rate of voter participation. These factors include: gender, race, age, religion and ethnicity (Political Science 694). Data analysis suggests that the age group which ranges between 30 to 65 years is more likely to actively participate in the elections, however, a voter turnout which comprises mainly of young voters has been observed as a recent trend in elections across the globe. This change is attributable to a rise in the popularity of social platforms which are responsible for transmitting information and raising awareness (Political Science 694). While, the general perception suggests that women are least likely to vote in comparison with men, this observation has been classified as a myth by studies which report that the gender gap in the elections process has been declining or is even inexistent in some cases (Political Science 694). As identified in the preceding discussion age and gender are two factors which are not associated with the personal characteristics and beliefs of an individual, perhaps which is why their influence in shaping an individual’s decision to vote or not to vote has been becoming negligible. However, religion and ethnicity are two key factors which demonstrate the difference in opinions and perceptions that are shared by people with regards to making a selection regarding political participation. Thus, the variances in the available data for this case cannot be utilized for fairly objective assessments regarding voter participation. 2A. Launching an effective campaign for elective office is crucial in deciding the fate of a candidate’s journey towards presidency. In order to achieve the desired purpose, it is important for a candidate to keep in mind the elements of an effective campaign so as to develop the campaign in a manner that it is able to meet its designated goals and objectives. The most crucial factor of a campaign for elective office is associated with organizing and managing human resource that has the ability to carry out its tasks effectively and also work collectively as a team. At the centre of a successful campaign lies the effective execution of the tasks ‘of a campaign manager who is responsible for harmonizing the operations of a campaign and linking them one another to achieve a desirable result (Political Science 611). While, the campaign manager can be identified as a focal point of all organizational activities, it must be noted that without the relentless efforts of dedicated activists and supporters of the candidate the human resource element of the campaign cannot be deemed as complete. As loyal advocates of the cause, it is the activists who in fact strive to advance the campaign’s motto by participating in volunteer activities and programs (Political Science 611). While, the campaign staff can be identified as a crucial factor of the election campaign, the modern campaign is dependent upon the effective execution of several techniques which are critical to the process. These factors can be determined as 1) campaign advertising 2) communicating the message to the masses and 3) utilizing modern technology such as social media effectively. The concept of campaign advertising is rooted upon the utilization of traditional methods of communication as well as propaganda (Political Science 604). The elements of a successful advertising campaign must be projected in the form campaign plan which outlines the execution of the strategy. With the popularity of modern communication methods which are based online increasingly rapidly, it is not surprising that several recent election campaigns across the globe have been designed on the basis the medium. The use of social media platforms allows candidates to spread their message across to younger audiences who are more active on such platforms. This action in turn sparks discussion and debate on matters of policy and governance with both the advocates and critics of a candidate having the equal opportunity of showcasing their ideas through blogs, forums and websites. Through this method, those individuals who have remained undecided can choose a candidate which they deem as suitable for office. 2B. According to Wiarda, the foundations of the theory of rational choice are based upon developing an empirical and scientific model for assessing and explaining voting patterns, voting behavior and trends in political participation (143). Like the provisions of economics, the rational theory entails that it is indeed possible to explain political dynamics in what is categorized as a rational terms. This implies that the existence of self-interest and rationality remain to be the two most significant components of the theory. Due to the dominance of self-interest and rationality which are rooted within the foundations of the theory, it can be stated that the model is based upon the tenets of rational decision making. In accordance with the principles of this concept, individuals are recommended to opt for a choice which is rational and in alignment with the preferences of that person. Additionally, the proposed actions in the case of this theory are also the actions upon which it is possible for a person to act and for which the anticipated consequences are desired and termed as favorable by the individual who is taking the action. In terms of the rational choice theory, the choices which are available at the disposal of a voter would be to vote for candidate A, candidate B or choose not vote and abstain from the democratic process. Given the self-interested and rational nature of the individual, the theory proposes that the individual would select an option which coincides with his/her preference and can be deemed as rational at the same time. Even though, researchers have applied the provisions of this theory on the political landscape in several situations, Wiarda notes that the wide variances in political cultures and even national cultures in general postulate that this theory cannot possibly be applied to each and every political landscape or happening (143). This view also sheds light on the components of comparative politics which promotes interpretation of subjective data and information and takes into account the differences which are present across nations. Therefore, if the tenets of the rational choice theory are accepted then it would be assumed that political instability is not present in any scenario and that each and every individual has equal access to all three choices that is to vote for A or vote for B or abstain. These observations have therefore, weakened the recommendations of the theory, nonetheless, supporters of this concept have worked on the improvement of the concept by integrating the influence of cultural elements and variations in political structure to enhance its application on a global scale. Works Cited Campbell, Angus. The American Voter. Chicago [Ill.: University of Chicago Press, 1980. Political Science. Boundless, 2013. Wiarda, Howard J. Comparative politics: approaches and issues. Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. Read More