New Labour’s Grassroots

Thinking Activists: Australian Greens Party Activists and Their Responses to Leadership

“…Key points of interest are emerging in these internal dynamics of parties (Vromen and Turnbull 2006), particularly between activists and central offices or parliamentary leadership (Seyd and Whiteley 1992;Whiteley, Seyd and Richardson 1994;Whiteley, Seyd and Billinghurst 2006), including continuing changes in the organisational structures of green parties (Carter 2008;Rihoux 2006). In examining the organisational development of the Australian Greens, it is important to retain a focus on the democratic processes within the party.…”

“…Some scholars have used the descriptor 'activist' for party members who participate more fully than others (Kitschelt 1989a(Kitschelt , 1989bSeyd and Whiteley 1992;Whiteley, Seyd and Billinghurst 2006;Whiteley, Seyd and Richardson 1994). Party activism occurs across different levels of involvement, from largely inactive members who are only motivated around elections, to those who apply themselves to almost full-time work as party volunteers (Seyd and Whiteley 1992). All party activists are members, but not all members are party activists.…”

“…Defining Activists Seyd and Whiteley (1992) and Whiteley, Seyd and Richardson (1994) conducted surveys of parties in the United Kingdom. They used sets of questions to identify activists on the basis of the activities undertaken by members, extrapolated from a cross-sectional survey of party membership.…”

“…On a macro-level, surveys such as those conducted by Seyd and Whiteley (1992), Whiteley, Seyd and Richardson (1994) and Whiteley, Seyd and Billinghurst (2006) provide insight into the kinds of activities undertaken by party members. Surveys of party conferences explore their dynamics, providing details of the activities and actions taken by parties and their leaders.…”

The Conservatives in crisis

“…Yet, The Fresh Future lost sight of this basic thesis and chose instead to ape the centralising trends of the Labour Party -overlooking studies which showed that these trends retarded Labour's prospects at the 1987 and 1992 elections, and were only exonerated in 1997 after a disastrous period of Tory government. 62 It is true that the language of OMOV was heard inside the Tory Party after 1997, and that this sometimes led (as with candidate selection) to greater empowerment of ordinary members. But, as with New Labour, the leadership's use of OMOV was less a sign of thoroughbred democracy than of short-term party management, helping to stifle the leader's critics within the parliamentary party while making the party look more 'modern' and 'inclusive'.…”