Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Why is British politics so fragmented?

By Mal Fletcher - posted Thursday, 9 April 2015


This approach has spilled over into the way we deal with the once unshakeable verities of politics and religion. Seekers after spiritual truth will often place themselves outside of traditional religious categories. Some claim to hold to a common, essential truth behind all the major faiths - despite the fact that these faiths often proffer mutually exclusive ideas about truth.

In politics, terms like 'left' and 'right' now mean something completely different than they did a generation ago. Back then, the lines were clearer because they were drawn on the basis of ideology.

In modern politics, the markers keep shifting; they move according to the particular issue in question. An individual might be right-of-centre on one issue and left-of-centre on another. Voters are now much more likely than their parents were to back a party for its stance on a single issue, or a raft of similar issues, than for its overall ideology.

Advertisement

As a result, party leaders are nervous about mentioning ideologies, or even appearing too adamant about their worldview. They want their ideas to sound amenable to eclecticism. They fear alienating the one or two percent of voters who might push them over the top.

This gives pollsters migraines, because issues can shift in importance right up to election day, along with the minds and emotions of voters.

One other factor feeds the fragmentation of political loyalties. It is not likely to be discussed very much during this election cycle, yet its impact shouldn't be underestimated.

The plethora of social media presents unprecedented opportunities for politicos. In the 2008 American primaries, then Senator Barack Obama was the first US political figures to understand the power and reach of social media.

Before candidate Obama's opponents had figured out what social media were, his team were investing heavily in coverage on Facebook, Twitter and other nascent platforms. They even bought advertising space within online games.

New media promised so much. Social media promised politicos something they'd long yearned for: the opportunity to connect directly with voters, and especially with those who would share their ideas virally.

Advertisement

When users could become producers and consumers could become activists, ideas would spread person-to-person, rippling between well-connected individuals who formed the hubs of social networks.

The ascension of a humble Chicago community worker to the US presidency can, in large part, be attributed to social media. The same media, though, brought certain political challenges.

The most important of these is the fact that social media potentially open the door to viral alienation. Among social media users, ideas are often formed without context or nuance and then presented via platforms that only allow headlines.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. 3
  5. All

This article was first published on 2020PLUS.NET.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

20 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Mal Fletcher is a media social futurist and commentator, keynote speaker, author, business leadership consultant and broadcaster currently based in London. He holds joint Australian and British citizenship.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Mal Fletcher

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 20 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy