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This book provides a new and distinctive interpretation on the political strategy of David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. Rather than offering a chronological overview of his leadership, or a policy-based approach, the book assesses Cameronism via two themes – modernisation and manipulation. In terms of the modernisation the book will examine the following. First, how Cameron attempted to detoxify the negative image of the Conservatives. Second, how Cameron sought to delegitimise Labour as a party of government by deflecting the blame on austerity onto the legacy of Labour in office. Third, how Cameron used the Big Society narrative as a means of reducing the perceived responsibilities of the state. In terms of manipulation the book will evaluate Cameronism in relation to coalition government, and the exploitation of the Liberal Democrats will be examined, notably in relation to austerity, tuition fees and electoral reform. Cameronism will also be examined in relation the challenges to the existing political order by considering the demands for Scottish independence, and the rise of UKIP and the case for a referendum on continued European Union membership. Through this dual emphasis on modernisation and manipulation the book will provide an exploration of the key events and issues that defined the premiership of David Cameron, and a clear overview of his successes and failures as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. The book will be essential reading to those interested in British party politics and prime ministerial leadership.
consider Cameron in relation to manipulation, thus building on the ideas first advanced in Heppell ( 2013a ). This second part of the book is clearly influenced by the work of Riker and the theory of heresthetics (see, for example, Riker, 1982 , 1984 , 1986 ; see also McLean, 2001 , 2002 and Hay, 2009 for wider discussions about heresthetics). Heresthetics is the art of political manipulation. It
’, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 18, No. 4 (October 1995), pp. 773–96. 6 These ‘new parties’ include: the Democratic Unionist Party, founded in October 1971; the Social Democratic and Labour Party, founded in August 1970; and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, founded in April 1970. 7 Northern Ireland Political Collection, Linenhall Library, Belfast (NIPC), NILP Box 1, ‘Internal NILP Memorandum’, 14 March 1987. 8 Pringle, D.G., ‘Electoral Systems and Political Manipulation: A Case Study
dramatic events attested to the Middle East as an integral part of the global village in terms of its exposure to modern technology, communication networks, and Western ideas. The young generation, which had known only revolutionary-centrist regimes in the second half of the twentieth century, emerged as a social actor in the 2011 events. Many angry young people protested against restrictions on individual liberties and political manipulation and expressed frustration over the severe economic distress of the population. In the boulevards and
. S. McGrail and V. Patterson, ‘For as Long as It Takes!’: Cowie Miners in the Strike, 1984–5 (self-published pamphlet, 1985), p. 32; B. Heathfield, ‘Women of the Coalfields’ (unpublished book draft, 1985), p. 30, TWL/7BEH/1/2; ‘What Did You Do in the Strike, Mum?’, Spare Rib, 151, February (1985), p 7. Tariq Ali argued that unlike the 1930s when disaffected young miners would have joined the CP, there was no obvious equivalent in the 1980s. Ali, untitled article, Time Out, p. 8. The Economic League, ‘Special Report. Ruthless, Cunning and Contemptuous: Political
, when we consider heresthetics, or the art of political manipulation, we can legitimately argue that Cameron performed well in terms of exploiting the Liberal Democrats. This is not unusual. The comparative politics academic literature on coalitions shows that exploitation of the junior coalition partners regularly happens (see Bolleyer, 2008 ; Dunphy and Bale, 2011 ). That literature tells us that the Liberal
The aim of the second part of the book has been to explore Cameronism as political manipulation. Chapters 5 and 6 have done so by examining the dynamics between the coalition partners between 2010 and 2015. Chapter 5 considered how Cameron and the Conservatives outmanoeuvred Clegg, and his Liberal Democrat colleagues, in terms of the negotiations regarding policy and personnel. Chapter 6
aims of positive transformation insofar as they encourage political manipulation, create resistance to reforms and may push some actors further towards the informal and illicit sectors. Of the four potential impacts of ideology on transformation, it is this final hypothetical that requires the least reassessment. While there was a general acceptance of the alternative and historically grounded manner in which Kosovo organises itself and operates, there appeared a general consensus that this would, and should, change with time, and that given the right tools it would
Qurʾan as an exchange of ideas would free religious thinking from political manipulation and enhance its relevance to modern life. It would teach Muslims that the consolidation of the Qurʾan was the result of dialogue and debate, negotiation and disputation, not only of non-Muslim norms and practices, but also of earlier attitudes and suppositions in Islam. 75 Abu Zayd offered two examples of the Qurʾan as a conversation: Islamic punishments ( hudud ) and slavery. A glance at the hudud (for example stoning to punish adultery, amputation of the hand for theft, the
pursue vigorous forms of political manipulation and propaganda to achieve its objectives. As politics is highly influenced by transient events, a temporal perspective is required, because the power of the political elite and its responsiveness to public opinion changes over time. This is particularly the case with Britain's membership of the Common Market, because the issue of Britain in Europe presents itself as a political issue differently in each of the decades from the 1950s to the present time. This book, however, merely discusses a twenty