Conviction politics
Encyclopedia
Conviction politics refers to the practice of campaigning based on a politicians' own fundamental values or ideas, rather than attempting to represent an existing consensus or simply take positions that are popular in polls.
On the right, the term has been adopted by politicians like Margaret Thatcher
, who declared "I am not a consensus politician. I am a conviction politician" upon assuming leadership of the Conservative Party in 1975. On the left, it was vocally supported by Paul Wellstone
, whose Wellstone Action
now trains future politicians in his theory of conviction politics.
Thatcher, like her counterpart Ronald Reagan
in the United States
, argued that her leadership should be a time for big, bold changes, grounded in the central principles of her ideology. "It was not a set of policies cobbled together from minute to minute, begged, borrowed or stolen from other people," she said when describing her government. "It was successful because it was based on clear, firmly-held principles..." A devout Methodist, she further defended these principles as being grounded in the Christian Bible: "I believe that by taking together these key elements from the Old and New Testaments, we gain a view of the universe, a proper attitude to work and principles to shape economic and social life. We are told we must work and use our talents to create wealth."
Her thinking on the subject was influenced by Keith Joseph
, sometimes considered the "intellectual leader" of modern British conservatism and the man Thatcher called "my closest political friend." Joseph had developed an intellectual critique of the reigning postwar and Keynesian consensus and criticized the "consensus politics" that continued to promote it.
In 2007, then-current British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown
announced he too was "a conviction politician" after private talks with Lady Thatcher in a 10 Downing Street
visit. He was criticised for the gaffe as being inappropriate for a Labour Party politician to identify with the 81-year-old former Conservative prime minister.
In the US, Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone
was a major proponent of conviction politics from the left, promoting peace, environmental and labor protections, and health care. After Wellstone's death in 2002, his longtime aide and campaign manager, Jeff Blodgett, founded Wellstone Action
, which promotes conviction politics through education and training. Blodgett's book, Winning Your Election the Wellstone Way, strongly promotes conviction politics for progressive politicians.
Virginia congressman Tom Perriello
explicitly ran his successful campaign based on "conviction politics" and hoped his example would encourage others to run conviction politics campaigns in the future.
There are also more instrumental reasons. By arguing forcefully for their positions during the campaign, a politician is more able to pursue those goals once in office. Also, proponents argue that conviction politicians are more likely to win. When he was a candidate, Tom Perriello said that "More often, the deepest connection with another person comes from when I disagree with them and admit it, because at least they know I will tell the truth. While some strategists focus on positioning candidates on issue after issue, I believe most voters focus more on whether the candidate integrity and character on the whole, demonstrated by the conviction to take a stand."
Paul Wellstone frequently heard voters tell him "I don't always agree with you, but I like it that I know where you stand." He found that when he announced his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
, an unpopular position at the time, he jumped to a five-point lead in the polls.
In the United States, 87% of voters say they think politicians are "pretty much willing to say whatever it takes in order to get themselves elected." By saying what they believe and ignoring the polls, conviction politicians distinguish themselves from other politicians in this way.
has been called a "hard ideology" with "religious and chauvinistic underpinnings" and "contributed to the call by Muslim
fundamentalists to a broader jihad
" – it has "redefined the war on terror
and alienated Arab and Muslim public opinion."
Critics of Margaret Thatcher's conviction politics say it "burst apart the old consensus" and has "fostered dissensus".
Some critics have gone farther and have said that conviction politics, especially in the US, are "theological politics".
On the right, the term has been adopted by politicians like Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, who declared "I am not a consensus politician. I am a conviction politician" upon assuming leadership of the Conservative Party in 1975. On the left, it was vocally supported by Paul Wellstone
Paul Wellstone
Paul David Wellstone was a two-term U.S. Senator from the state of Minnesota and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Before being elected to the Senate in 1990, he was a professor of political science at Carleton College...
, whose Wellstone Action
Wellstone Action
Wellstone Action is a Saint Paul, Minnesota-based non-profit organization that was founded by Jeff Blodgett. The camp trains progressive citizens - and potential candidates for public office - how to succeed in winning elections, enacting legislation, and passing ballot initiatives. The...
now trains future politicians in his theory of conviction politics.
History
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, argued that her leadership should be a time for big, bold changes, grounded in the central principles of her ideology. "It was not a set of policies cobbled together from minute to minute, begged, borrowed or stolen from other people," she said when describing her government. "It was successful because it was based on clear, firmly-held principles..." A devout Methodist, she further defended these principles as being grounded in the Christian Bible: "I believe that by taking together these key elements from the Old and New Testaments, we gain a view of the universe, a proper attitude to work and principles to shape economic and social life. We are told we must work and use our talents to create wealth."
Her thinking on the subject was influenced by Keith Joseph
Keith Joseph
Keith St John Joseph, Baron Joseph, Bt, CH, PC , was a British barrister and politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under three Prime Ministers , and is widely regarded to have been the "power behind the throne" in the creation of what came to be known as...
, sometimes considered the "intellectual leader" of modern British conservatism and the man Thatcher called "my closest political friend." Joseph had developed an intellectual critique of the reigning postwar and Keynesian consensus and criticized the "consensus politics" that continued to promote it.
In 2007, then-current British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
announced he too was "a conviction politician" after private talks with Lady Thatcher in a 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
visit. He was criticised for the gaffe as being inappropriate for a Labour Party politician to identify with the 81-year-old former Conservative prime minister.
In the US, Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone
Paul Wellstone
Paul David Wellstone was a two-term U.S. Senator from the state of Minnesota and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Before being elected to the Senate in 1990, he was a professor of political science at Carleton College...
was a major proponent of conviction politics from the left, promoting peace, environmental and labor protections, and health care. After Wellstone's death in 2002, his longtime aide and campaign manager, Jeff Blodgett, founded Wellstone Action
Wellstone Action
Wellstone Action is a Saint Paul, Minnesota-based non-profit organization that was founded by Jeff Blodgett. The camp trains progressive citizens - and potential candidates for public office - how to succeed in winning elections, enacting legislation, and passing ballot initiatives. The...
, which promotes conviction politics through education and training. Blodgett's book, Winning Your Election the Wellstone Way, strongly promotes conviction politics for progressive politicians.
Virginia congressman Tom Perriello
Tom Perriello
Thomas Stuart Price "Tom" Perriello is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes much of Southside Virginia and stretches north to Charlottesville....
explicitly ran his successful campaign based on "conviction politics" and hoped his example would encourage others to run conviction politics campaigns in the future.
Theory
There are a number of arguments in favor of conviction politics. One is that it is more honest -- a conviction politician simply says what they believe rather than shading their opinions to be more palatable to their audience. Another is that by voicing strong opinions they push public debate forward and promote a genuine discussion of political issues. Even if a candidate loses, they will have promoted their particular political ideas and hopefully persuaded some voters of their value.There are also more instrumental reasons. By arguing forcefully for their positions during the campaign, a politician is more able to pursue those goals once in office. Also, proponents argue that conviction politicians are more likely to win. When he was a candidate, Tom Perriello said that "More often, the deepest connection with another person comes from when I disagree with them and admit it, because at least they know I will tell the truth. While some strategists focus on positioning candidates on issue after issue, I believe most voters focus more on whether the candidate integrity and character on the whole, demonstrated by the conviction to take a stand."
Paul Wellstone frequently heard voters tell him "I don't always agree with you, but I like it that I know where you stand." He found that when he announced his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, an unpopular position at the time, he jumped to a five-point lead in the polls.
In the United States, 87% of voters say they think politicians are "pretty much willing to say whatever it takes in order to get themselves elected." By saying what they believe and ignoring the polls, conviction politicians distinguish themselves from other politicians in this way.
Criticism
The conviction politics practiced by George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
has been called a "hard ideology" with "religious and chauvinistic underpinnings" and "contributed to the call by Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
fundamentalists to a broader jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
" – it has "redefined the war on terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
and alienated Arab and Muslim public opinion."
Critics of Margaret Thatcher's conviction politics say it "burst apart the old consensus" and has "fostered dissensus".
Some critics have gone farther and have said that conviction politics, especially in the US, are "theological politics".