Description
Assignment Title – “What distinguishes political marketing from older forms of political selling is precisely the emphasis on voter wants and needs at the start of the production-consumption cycle”. Discuss with reference to at least two module topics from the modules various eras of election campaigning.
THE TOPICS/ Eras of choice – 1) Thatcher and Her Politcal election campaigns in 1979-1987
Was Thatcher a conviction politician or a packaged product? Role of saatchi and saatchi in her election campaigns? Examine and evaluate the techniques used by Thatcher’s political communication strategists- who were they and what were they doing?
2) New Labour: A spin Machine – Labour under Blair 1994- 2005 election. 97 and 2001 elections too. What were the reasons for New Labours triumphs at the polls? New Labours reliance of focus groups for deciding policy choices. Does New Labour signify the acceptance of the ‘permanent campaign’ in Britain? Compare how New Labour worked and campaigned to The Foot Labour campaign of 1983 maybe. The Epitome of “Americanisation”? Did New Labour just lift everything from the Democrats of the 90s campaigns under Clinton?
Use the two eras to of political campaigning, specifically the tory side under Thatcher and the New Labour side under Blair to make an argument either agreeing or disagreeing with the statement in the assignment title. The essay needs an underlying argument, this is key.