Political Workshop - Tuesday 5th

Political Workshop - Tuesday 5^th

Introduction to political parties and their values, key terms, and Brecht

I previously had some knowledge of politics but since discovering the new theme for this term I have furthered my understanding. I knew the basic principles of Labour and Conservative political parties, but I feel learning more in depth has helped me to understand political positions and the contrasting, complex, historical nature of it.



 this must contribute to the complexity of pressure put upon Amanda’s stress in the short play we are studying.

   Left Wing-

    The Labour party,

-          Originally designed to help workers, “labourers”, to unite for their common good,

-          Takes the view of wanting to support the less able/ disadvantaged within society,

-          Believes that The British public deserve high quality healthcare despite class,

-          Wants to create a just society judging its strength by the condition of the weak as much as the strong and make these boundaries between the two smaller in order to make society more equal,

-          Promotes equality of opportunity rather than an hierarchy system and is against prejudice, poverty, and abuse of power,

-          The term “left wing” has generally branched out to over time to be associated with environmentalists, non-war movement etc and be widely considered to be connected to different various movements,

-          Open democracy where decisions are taken as far as possible by the communities they affect and where fundamental human rights are guaranteed

-          The Labour Party is a democratic socialist Party. It believes that the community achieve more than we achieve alone,


Centralism is in the middle 

Right Wing –

-          The conservative party,

-          - Opposes left wing values,

-         - Describes themselves as “on the side of hard working people” and gives less money and importance to the lower class system, free NHS and housing benefits,

-          - Thinks that social hierarchy is either inevitable, normal, natural or desirable,

-          - Believes that every man fends for himself and earns what he deserves, those who work less or earn less are not their priority.

Political Scale:

Communism (state ownership)  

Labour Party (left wing)

Centralism

Conservative Party (right wing)

Neo conservative (anti-immigration, racist) 

Historically, during the French Revolution: Left Wing opposed the monarchy and supported the revolution whilst Right Wing believed in traditional institutions of the old regimes and the monarchy.

Key Terms:

Republic: A republic is a way of organising politically where the head of state is elected (eg president) and not a monarch. Therefore, England isn’t a republic as we have a monarchy (royal family) whilst a republic has an elected head of state such as France.

Anarchy/Anarchism: Political disorder or confusion/ absense of a cohesive principle, such as a common standard or purpose. Anarchists don’t believe in rule by government instead they believe in personal freedom without order.

Communism: A classless social order based on common ownership.

Democratic: A democracy, or democratic society, is the opposite to a dictatorship meaning that everyone has the right to vote the party or organisation of their own choice into power.

Capitalism: Having a free economy, having the right to own money and start businesses. “An economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private ownership for profit rather than by the state”.

Bertolt Brecht – An introduction

      Brecht felt that when watching naturalistic theatre, which was currently seen as desirable, audiences were not being challenged or pushed from their comfort zone. They were absent viewers observing what appeared to be real life performed by actors keeping in mind the fourth wall. He believed this meant that audiences were too safe in their viewing and not receiving a message in a way that made them think and fully engage with the issues. He wanted the audience to be more involved rather than reserved onlookers.

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