The Loyalties of Voters: A Lifetime Learning Model Book

What determines the loyalties of voters? The factors identified by social scientists range from a politician's last-minute television appeal to the social class of the voter's parents. But which of the many influences are most important electorally? For the first time, The Loyalties of Voters offers a convincing answer, firmly based on an analysis of three decades of electoral behaviour. A sophisticated lifetime learning model is developed. Family loyalties absorbed as a child, adult socio-economic interests and enduring political values cumulatively shape a voter's judgement of the government of the day, the party leaders of the moment. Marshalling evidence from British elections from 1964 to the present, Rose and McAllister determine the critical steps in a lifetime of learning. They show a clear and readable way the influence (or lack of influence) of each potentially formative factor.The book illuminates the transition from the two-party system of the 1960s to the disillusion with Labour and the rise of the centre parties which caused instability of voting in the 1980s. The conclusion considers the major challenges facing the parties in the 1990s: for the left and centre, the need to bring together voters with differing values about the economy, the environment and international affairs into a winning coalition; for the right, opportunities for expanding the Conservative coalition when Margaret Thatcher steps down.Combining the development of a new model and an in-depth analysis of the 1987 election with stimulating perspectives on earlier and future voting behaviour. The Loyalties of Voters is essential reading for all students of politics.Read More