The Ideological Mediation of Party-Political Responses to Social Change

In: European journal of political research: official journal of the European Consortium for Political Research, Band 13, Heft 1, S. 69-93

Abstract

It is argued that the responses of political parties to social change are mediated by ideology, which offers only a limited range of options. What these options are, how & why they are limited, & how they may account for recent political developments are discussed in the context of a general review of the relations between ideologies, parties, & change. A modified model of the traditional Left-Right spectrum based on the concept of a "relative & dynamic center" is used. The resulting mode of analysis, here called "idealectics," is illustrated with reference to Western, especially British, experience over the last two decades. 3 Figures, 5 References. HA