Classifying Elections in Britain

ISBN-13: 9783030325558 / Angielski / Twarda / 2019 / 107 str.

Christopher Kirkland

Spis treści

Chapter 1: Introduction

Understanding British Elections

First- and Second-Order Elections

Other Views of British Elections

First- and Second-Order Elections in a Comparative Context

Conclusions

References

Chapter 2: New Approach

Elections as non-static entities

Changing The Nature of Elections

Conceptualising Elections

Voters

Political Parties

The Media

Conclusion

References

Chapter 3: Turnout

Voters as rational actors

Less at stake

Case Study I: The General Election of 2001

Case Study II: European Elections

Description of turnout of different types of elections

Turnout as results of elections

References

Chapter 4: Political Parties

Defining Political Parties

Case Study I: Devolved Elections

Case Study II: PCC elections and by-elections

Measuring Political Party’s Salience of Elections

Calculating Party Spending

Party and Voters Perceptions of Elections

Conclusions

References

Chapter 5: The Media

Case Study I: Police and Crime Commissioner Elections

Case Study II: The 2019 Local Elections

Media Reporting of Elections

References

Chapter 6: Conclusions

Beyond Frist- and Second-order

Further Considerations

Conclusions

Appendix

O autorze

Christopher Kirkland is Lecturer in Politics at York St. John University, UK. Previous publications include The Political Economy of Britain in Crisis and PCC Elections as a ‘Failed Experiment’: What Lessons can be Learned?

Blurb

‘This excellent book provides a very timely examination of the different types of elections in post-devolution Britain, and how these are viewed by the parties, the media, and voters themselves. Kirkland offers an up-to-date and nuanced account of the orthodox distinction between first-order and second-order elections, noting how this over-simplifies the differences between them and overlooks some similarities. In so doing, he skilfully develops a more refined and relevant framework for classifying elections in Britain today, and evaluating their significance. As such, this book is absolutely essential reading for students and scholars of electoral politics.’

–Pete Dorey, Professor of British Politics, Cardiff University, UK

This book seeks to understand and classify differences that exist between a variety of elections in Britain. It moves beyond first- and second-order classifications developed following the European Parliamentary Elections in 1979 to include elections of devolved administrations such as the Scottish Parliament, local mayors or the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections. Drawing upon a range of elections, the book develops a new classification based on the interactions that exist between voters, the media and political parties. In doing so, it argues that alongside voters, political parties and the media can, and do, prioritize certain elections. The author explores the role of each group within elections individually through case studies. The final chapter then offers an overall means of understanding the levels of salience attached to each election.

Christopher Kirkland is Lecturer in Politics at York St. John University, UK. Previous publications include The Political Economy of Britain in Crisis and PCC Elections as a ‘Failed Experiment’: What Lessons can be Learned?