In politics, a big tent or catch-all party is a type of political party that seeks to attract voters from different points of view and ideologies as opposed to other parties that defend a determined ideology and that seek voters who adhere to that ideology.
Video Big tent
Examples
United States
The Democratic Party during the New Deal coalition, formed in support of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies from 1930s until 1960s, was a "big-tent" party. This coalition brought together labor unions, working-class voters, farm organizations, liberals, Southern Democrats, African Americans, urban voters and immigrants. While less of a big-tent today, the Democratic Party does retain "considerable ideological diversity" and political scientist William Mayer has shown "that the party's faithful consistently reflect a broader ideological and policy range than Republicans".
The Blue Dog Coalition is a big-tent of centrist and conservative Democrats, some being socially conservative and fiscally and economically progressive or vice versa.
Following the 1974 Dallas Accord, the Libertarian Party embraced the big tent idea to the extent it ensured that the anarchist-capitalist views would not be excluded from the majority minarchist party.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the Socialist Party USA (SPUSA) are both big tent organizations for socialist ideologies. The DSA, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization includes the Libertarian Socialist Caucus for anarchists, council communists and libertarian socialists, whereas the SPUSA as a political party is a big tent which includes the revolutionary type.
India
The Indian National Congress attracted support from Indians of all classes, castes and religions opposed to the British Empire.
Italy
In Italy, the Five Star Movement led by comedian and actor Beppe Grillo has been described as a Catch-all, protest party and "post-ideological big tent" because its supporters do not share similar policy preferences, are split on major economic and social issues and are united largely based on "anti-establishment" sentiments. The Five Star Movement's "successful campaign formula combined anti-establishment sentiments with an economic and political protest which extends beyond the boundaries of traditional political orientations", yet its "'catch-all' formula" has limited its ability to become "a mature, functional, effective and coherent contender for government". However, in Italy's elections in 2018, the Five Star Movement got 32% of the votes.
United Kingdom
When Gordon Brown became British Prime Minister in 2007, he invited several members from outside the Labour Party into his government. These included former CBI Director-General Digby Jones who became a Minister of State and former Liberal Democrats leader Paddy Ashdown who was offered the position of Northern Ireland Secretary (Ashdown turned down the offer). The media often referred to Brown's ministry as "a government of all the talents" or simply "Brown's big tent".
Maps Big tent
Other examples
- National Regeneration Movement, Mexico
See also
- Bipartisanship
- Broad church
- Party of power
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments