A Level Politics - Comparing Electoral and Party Systems-Arguments against greater party unity in the USA, and for party division in the UK being longstanding

A Level Politics - Comparing Electoral and Party Systems-Arguments against greater party unity in the USA, and for party division in the UK being longstanding
I. Deep Divisions Within US Parties: Contrary to Appearances
The text argues that apparent unity in US parties masks significant internal divisions, evident in:

• Primaries: The 2019 Democratic primaries highlighted policy clashes between progressive candidates (e.g., Warren, advocating for massive student loan forgiveness and "Medicare for All") and more centrist candidates (e.g., Biden). This pattern repeats in congressional primaries (e.g., Ocasio-Cortez's upset victory). The Republican party shows similar divisions between libertarians (e.g., Rand Paul), moderates (e.g., Murkowski, Collins), and the Trump wing. The failure to unite on healthcare exemplifies this deep divide.
• Primary System: The US primary system itself fosters intra-party competition and personality-driven campaigns, often making candidates seem like opponents from different parties.

Key Takeaway: Despite outward appearances, deep ideological and policy disagreements persist within both major US parties. The primary system exacerbates these divisions.
II. Longstanding Divisions Within UK Parties: A Historical Perspective
The text counters the idea of recent UK party division by highlighting historical examples:

• Labour Party: Experienced significant factionalism throughout its history. Key examples include the disputes over unilateral nuclear disarmament (Gaitskell's famous fight against the pacifist wing) and the struggles with Trotskyite infiltration and the Militant group in the 1980s. The relative lack of public intra-party feuding compared to the US is attributed to the absence of a similar primary system and the difficulty of deselecting sitting MPs.
• Conservative Party: Despite a reputation for loyalty, the Conservatives have also faced deep divisions, particularly over Europe (e.g., the "wets" vs. "dries" during Thatcher's era) and leading to leadership challenges (e.g., John Major's "Back me or sack me" election).

Key Takeaway: Intra-party divisions in the UK are not a new phenomenon. Both major parties have long histories of internal conflict over policy and ideology. The mechanisms for expressing these divisions differ from the US system.
III. Comparing Party Structures and Factions
Both US and UK parties have formal factions or caucuses, which are listed in the text's Table 20.4. These groups, while potentially changing names, represent consistent ideological stances within the parties (Study Tip: Remember this important point!).
IV. Synthesis: Nuance and Caution
The text concludes that while recent trends show increased visible unity in US parties and more visible conflict in UK parties, these should not be viewed as entirely novel or profound shifts. Both countries’ party systems demonstrate considerable internal disunity, driven by ideological fault lines, personality clashes, and the high stakes of leadership positions.
V. Activities & Further Study

• Activity: Compare and contrast video clips of speeches from Labour's 1985 party conferences (showing internal divisions over Militant) and the 2016 Republican primary debates (showing internal divisions within the Republican party).

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