A report examined trust in national and European political institutions, and levels of civic engagement during the economic crisis. It said that, in most countries, trust in both national and European political institutions had eroded substantially. Rates of traditional forms of participation had decreased, although new online forms of political expression had emerged.
Source: Political Trust and Civic Engagement During the Crisis, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Links: Report | Eurofound press release
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined the implications of Part 2 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill. The report was the outcome of consultation across a wide range of key stakeholders who were not otherwise consulted by government. Key recommendations included: that government should pause Part 2 of the Bill to allow for further consultation and consideration; otherwise, changes should be made to Part 2 of the Bill to limit the anticipated impact on the democratic engagement of civil society, with further regulatory changes beyond 2015.
Source: Non-Party Campaigning Ahead of Elections: Consultation and recommendations relating to Part 2 of the Transparency in Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning, and Trade Union Administration Bill, Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement
Links: Report | Third Sector report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Oct
A briefing paper examined the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill. It summarized the key provisions, background, and proceedings in the House of Commons.
Source: Maxine James, Nicola Newson, and Sarah Tudor, Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill (HL Bill 50 of 2013-4), Standard Note LLN 2013/028, House of Lords Library
Links: Briefing paper
Date: 2013-Oct
A report by a joint committee of MPs and peers said that there was a lack of clarity around Part II of the Bill (relating to campaigning). The committee recommended that the passage of the Bill should be paused so that further consultation and clarification could be achieved.
Source: Legislative Scrutiny: Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill, Fifth Report (Session 2013-14), HC 755 and HL 61, Joint Select Committee on Human Rights, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Oct
A report by a committee of peers questioned whether reducing the cap on third party expenditure at general elections was justified, given the fundamental constitutional right to freedom of political expression. The committee noted concerns about the degree of consultation on the proposals and the impact of the Bill on campaigns for the devolved assemblies. The committee also raised questions about the definition of lobbying in the Bill and encouraged the House of Lords to consider whether this definition was appropriate.
Source: Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill, Third Report (Session 2013-14), HL 62, House of Lords Constitution Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Committee press release
Date: 2013-Oct
An article examined the representation of under-represented groups within political parties. Where aspiring parliamentary candidates from under-represented groups had been selected, it was because they were 'acceptably different', conforming to aspects of the 'archetypal candidate'. Increasingly dominant professionalized 'pathways' into national politics had allowed greater diversity: but they remained narrow and exclusionary. Progress was less a reflection of a more open political system than an accommodation of still under-represented groups to, and by, the existing system.
Source: Catherine Durose, Liz Richardson, Ryan Combs, Christina Eason, and Francesca Gains, '"Acceptable difference": diversity, representation and pathways to UK politics', Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 66 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined recent research on party politics and the welfare state that differed from traditional 'partisan politics theory'. The traditional approach stated that left-wing and right-wing parties held contrasting positions on welfare issues, depending on the interests of their respective electorates. This view had recently been challenged by three strands of research, which emphasized: the effects of electoral change on parties' policy positions; the role of context, notably electoral institutions, party competition, and the configuration of party systems; and the impact of different linkages between parties and electorates (particularistic versus programmatic).
Source: Silja Hausermann, Georg Picot, and Dominik Geering, 'Rethinking party politics and the welfare state – recent advances in the literature', British Journal of Political Science, Volume 43 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb
An article examined recent research on party politics and the welfare state. The traditional approach stated that left-wing and right-wing parties held contrasting positions on welfare issues, depending on the interests of their respective electorates. This view had recently been challenged by three strands of research, which emphasized: the effects of electoral change on parties' policy positions; the role of context – notably electoral institutions, party competition, and the configuration of party systems; and the impact of different linkages between parties and electorates (particularistic versus programmatic).
Source: Silja Hausermann, Georg Picot, and Dominik Geering, 'Rethinking party politics and the welfare state – recent advances in the literature', British Journal of Political Science, Volume 43 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined whether voters in developed countries would punish their governments for cutting welfare state entitlements. Most parties with a positive welfare image lost support after they implemented cutbacks, whereas most parties with a negative welfare image did not.
Source: Gijs Schumacher, Barbara Vis, and Kees van Kersbergen, 'Political parties welfare image, electoral punishment and welfare state retrenchment', Comparative European Politics, Volume 11 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan