5. Are political parties legitimate actors?

Activity 1 - What are political parties?

Activity Tasks

Think/Pair/Share - What are political parties? discuss this with a partner before sharing a definition with the class.
List - What are the features that all political parties have in common? Make a list of characteristics.
Discuss - Share your list with the class. To what extent do political parties in Hong Kong share these features?
Examine - Download, read, and make notes from the Lesson Presentation on political parties.

Activity 2 - How are parties structured?

Activity Tasks

Select - Choose one of the following British political parties from the recent UK 2019 National Election to investigate:
1. Conservative Party - website and manifesto
2. Labour Party - website and manifesto
3. Liberal Democrat Party - website and manifesto
4. Green Party - website and manifesto
5. Brexit Party - website and manifesto
Analyse - Using the information from that Party’s official website and election manifesto, find out the following information and record on this worksheet:
1. What type of political party?
  1. Name - what is the name of the party you are analysing?
  2. Membership - cadre, mass, or catch-all party?
  3. Function - representative or integrative?
  4. Purpose - constitutional or revolutionary?
  5. Ideology - left-wing, centralist, or right-wing?
2. How does the party function?
  1. Representation - is there evidence of ways in which the party tries to gather and represent the views of members?
  2. Elite Formation - what is the career background of the major party leaders? what social class?
  3. Goal Formation - what are the major policies each party has proposed in their 2019 manifesto?
  4. Interest Articulation - which groups, individuals, classes or factions does this party represent?
  5. Socialisation - what have been the main political issues that the party has advocated? how have they done this?
  6. Organisation of Government - have any senior party members worked for the government? how have they criticised the current government?
3. How is the party organised?
  1. Funding - where and who does the party get its funding from?
  2. Membership - how many members does the party have? how can you become a member?
  3. Leadership - how are the party leaders chosen? Elections or appointed by a small group?
  4. Decision Making - how does the party make policy decisions? Are party members consulted? How?

Activity 3 - How do political parties vary?

Activity Tasks

Prepare - Using the information you have researched from Activity 2, prepare a 2-3 minute political platform persuasive speech to deliver to the class based on the 2019 election. Why should we vote for you?
Deliver - You have 2-3 minutes to deliver your platform speeches. Remember to include information about: what and who your party represents, the policies you hope to enact, how they will benefit the country and how your leadership is more experienced and ready for leadership. Feel free to criticise other parties!

Activity 4 - Are parties legitimate actors?

Activity Tasks

Review - Examine the arguments on Slide 21 of the Lesson Presentation for and against Political Parties.
Debate - Debate the following motion: “Political Parties enrich the political process for the benefit of all”.
Reflect - Reflect upon the statement of inquiry for this topic again. How does the function and operation of political parties support the statement? Can you give examples?

5. Are political parties legitimate actors?

Activity 1 - What are political parties?

Activity 2 - How are parties structured?

Activity 3 - How do political parties vary?

Activity 4 - Are parties legitimate actors?

Further Reading

Y7-9 MYP

Y10-11 IGCSE

Y12-13 IBDP