Suchergebnisse

The question of how political parties respond to constituencies which are heterogeneous, is approached by asking: (1) What social groupings are likely to give overwhelming support to one particular political party? & (2) Which party or parties are likely to collect a diverse number of social groupings as a support base & across what dimensions? 2 types of data are employed: (A) a survey of voters in 3 constituencies during the 1968 federal election, & (B) social characteristics of party executive committee members in the 3 constituencies. Federal & provincial executive members were interviewed. In analyzing the social congruence between political party activists & the party's voting base, there were 3 possible expectations: (a) the party leadership may be more socially heterogeneous than party supporters, (b) the reverse may hold, ie, the party voting base may be more socially inclusive compared to the activists, or (c) there may be no important differences in the social backgrounds between party workers & party voters. In general, the 2nd hypothesis was found to be most accurate. Social cleavages are greater at the organizational level of the parties but less so for voters. It is difficult to order the 3 parties on a single social dimension because the parties do not order political life along the same dimensions. The parties appeal to different social groupings on different dimensions. AA.

"Since the elitist myth of the governing class seeks to eliminate the people in connection with the destiny of society, this myth explodes when it is confronted with the fact that without the people, the rulers are as free spirits wandering lonely, dejected and unemployed in an empty world. But without rulers dominating their existence, the people, on the contrary, find that very freedom that calls forth their most creative efforts. Elitism places blind faith in an appropriate governing class. The democratic ideal incorporates a tempered trust in the wisdom and creative genius of the people" (Easton, 1947:418).