ELECTIONS

Influences Do Party Political Campaigns Have On Elections in Western Europe

Influences Do Party Political Campaigns Have On Elections in Western Europe

Introduction

The practice of political campaigns in the Western Europe seen as the vanguard of the campaign industry (Webb 2002,p. 10). Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that the is an international campaign model. The world is following the European-style campaign, the application of the methods, concepts, strategies and tactics. Many now recognize these new politics post material standards, cognitive mobilization (manipulation of the media), and pragmatism-modelled or influenced by the European style of politics. The global spread of techniques and marketing campaign fuelled by the internationalization of the firm's consulting and campaign promoted by similar ideological political parties and mass media in the world (Ware 2007,p. 65).

Discussion and Analysis

In the Western Europe, several studies document the decline of old style campaign and the emergence of contemporary style campaign. The new campaign style perceived to consist of four dimensions: new actors, new incentives, new tactics and new resources (Robert 2009,p. 65). First, new players are political consultants. Although, political parties, candidates and voters are still a part of the electoral process, the current campaigns are focused consultant. The centrality of political consultants (or spin doctors) is certainly in Europe, but the pattern exported around the world: Israeli election campaign, 1999 top consultants like James Carville, Bob Shrum, Stanley Greenberg, and J. Arthur Finkelstein hired by the main candidates. Political consultant's campaign designed around the world. Global Survey of Political Consulting (1998-2000), for example, shows that 57% of the top political consultants offering their services to foreign institutions in the 1990's .

Two thirds of these consultants engaged in consulting activities in more than one geographic region. Latin Europe was the largest foreign market for industry consultant. About 64% of the top consultants participating in election campaigns foreigners working there. The second important market in Europe, followed by post-communist countries. Less principal markets, but were still profitable in Asia, Africa and Middle East.

New players are, in fact, representing the professionalization of campaigns, a process based on the assumption that non-political modernization of the policy requires management of processes, including elections, by professionals who represent progress, in confidence in citizen participation (the fans). Professionalism is more concerned about winning the elections and less about the long-term qualities of democracy and citizenship (Poguntke 2005,p. 32).

The Europeanization of political campaigns around the world raises some concerns about the impact of this process. The professionalization of the campaign, combined with a strong emphasis on the personification of the political system can lead to the devaluation of the traditional structure of party organizations (Paquette 2006,p. 20). More worrying is evidence that European news coverage and media policy issues. It focus on campaign issues directly causes an increase in cynicism and lack of voter participation. The focus on the game of politics, rather than its substance, can feed a cycle of cynicism, trapping the media, politicians and voters. Several researchers have also concluded that negative campaigns are the demobilization ...