International Elections

[Jake]

Questions about differant countries. Any help is much appreciated.


1) What parties do the states in Germany lean towards. All I know is the CSU runs only in Germany.

2) On the democrat-centrist-republican line where do the German parties fit in.  Also, what are some approximate political compass scores.

3) What type of election system does Canada use. Single memebr, proportional, or mixed. 

4) Same as question two about Canadian parties.

Thanks

[2952-0-0]

3. It's first past the post for all 308 seats but we should be changing it to some form of proportional representation in the next few years.

4. Liberals-centrist, has been in power since 1993 and lost their majority in the June 2004 election (now having to flirt with the NDP for bills to pass)

Conservatives-extremist right wing, merged from the Canadian Alliance (really really right wing) and Progressive Conservatives (almost libertarian) in December 2003, hoped to win in June 2004, made gains but still lost

NDP-socialist

Bloc Quebecois-regionalist/separatist for Quebec

One Independent, an ex-Conservative who lost his district's Conservative nomination

And there's the Green Party (won 4.3% in June), the Marijuana Party, the Communists, etc... though they aren't on the radar screen

Check out http://www.elections.ca/

[minionofmidas]

Questions about differant countries. Any help is much appreciated.


1) What parties do the states in Germany lean towards. All I know is the CSU runs only in Germany.

2) On the democrat-centrist-republican line where do the German parties fit in.  Also, what are some approximate political compass scores.

1) I think you meant Bavaria when you wrote Germany the second time. The CSU runs only in Bavaria, while the CDU does not run in Bavaria.
In Bundestag elections, Bavaria leans strongly Union, and Baden-Württemberg also had a CDU/FDP majority even at the last two elections. Rheinland-Pfalz went narrowly Red-Green in 1998, narrowly Black-Yellow in 2002. All the other states had left-wing majorities recently (although the CDU was the strongest party in Saxony.)
The PDS gets about 15-20% in the East, somewhat over 1% in the West. It's strongest in East Berlin, where it polls 30%+.
Green Party's strongholds are major cities, especially ones with major universities.

CDU - quite conservative socially (ie, opposed to civil unions, split on abortion, VERY restrictive on immigration), torn between ultra-conservative and more populist positions economically.
FDP - economically ultra-conservative, socially at least officially quite liberal (although as long as they governed with the CDU you wouldn't have noticed it much)
SPD - anything between centrist, center-left, and old-left (ie, Al-ish )
Officially socially liberal although the average SPD voter really isn't that very liberal. The average Eastern SPD voter is probably much more liberal socially than the average Western one.
Greens - Socially very liberal, economically left or centrist.
PDS - by their programme, far left on everything. By who votes for them, a mix of very left-wing, mostly young people, diehard GDR fans, nad a vast mass of poor populist, but pacifist, Easterners (when polls on positions break down by party and East/West, you will usually see PDS voters occupying the middle position between Eastern CDU and SPD voters...)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

A bit more info on the NDP is needed:

They tend to vary a lot by province...

BC: They vary a lot, tending to be very leftwing on most things in the Vancouver and Victoria Metro's, while being more populist in the Interior and the rest of Vancouver island. Across BC the NDP is effectively a working class party (an attempt to appeal to Vancouver Yuppies flopped miserably this year) and has historically had difficulty appealing to Asian voters (outside East Vancouver o/c), although a recent by-election indicates that things may be a changing.

In the Prairies (and also Northern Ontario) they tend to be somewhat populist (especially on gun control) because their base up there is mostly poor rural and urban ethnic voters... the Saskatchewan NDP is also fiscally conservative (a legacy of Tommy Douglas. Who was Scottish). They do a lot better at Provincial level here than Federally (where NDP candidates are associated with the socially liberal positions of the Federal NDP leadership).

Ontario Dippers also vary a lot... in Northern Ontario they tend to be like Prairie Dippers, in Toronto and Ottawa they've been doing well with Yuppies of late, but in most of Ontario they're base is in blue collar Auto/Factory/Steel cities/towns. The once mighty Provincial NDP collapsed in the '90's but appears to be undergoing a revival.

The Quebec NDP appears to be an urban myth.

In Newfies, the NDP have periodic strength with poor fishermen, and more solid support from Iron miners in Labrador and the working class parts of St. Johns. They tend to be much more socially conservative than the Federal party.

The P.E.I NDP appears to be an urban myth.

Nova Scotia Dippers tend to be socially moderate and big (no... huge) on Regional Development. They're traditionally strong in Metro Halifax and Industrial Cape Breton... they appear to be making inroads in rural areas (they have a provincial seat in the Annapolis Valley) and have been official opposition (to both Liberal and PC Governments) for a while now.

In New Brunswick they do well in the working class parts of Saint John and Frederickton. Until recently that was it, but at Federal level they've made major inroads into the traditionally Liberal Acadian vote and there's hopes it might cross into Provincial poltics.

[Jake]

Thanks

[Hatman 🍁]

3. It's first past the post for all 308 seats but we should be changing it to some form of proportional representation in the next few years.

4. Liberals-centrist, has been in power since 1993 and lost their majority in the June 2004 election (now having to flirt with the NDP for bills to pass)

Conservatives-extremist right wing, merged from the Canadian Alliance (really really right wing) and Progressive Conservatives (almost libertarian) in December 2003, hoped to win in June 2004, made gains but still lost

NDP-socialist

Bloc Quebecois-regionalist/separatist for Quebec

One Independent, an ex-Conservative who lost his district's Conservative nomination

And there's the Green Party (won 4.3% in June), the Marijuana Party, the Communists, etc... though they aren't on the radar screen

Check out http://www.elections.ca/

Note: The NDP are social democrats, not socialists. Although they have a socialist wing. The new Conservative Party would probably be aligned with the Democrats (right of centre) with a few on the fringe who would be classic Republicans. The Liberals range from right of centre to left wing, however with the new Martin Government the left wing of the Liberals have been crushed, with many members forced out. Also note the Bloc Quebecois are just like the NDP except they want Quebec to seperate, and are Quebec nationalists. Also note there are now 2 independents in the House, as Carolyn Parrish was kicked out of cacus for certain reasons  which I wont get in to ;-)

The Greens are much more libertarian in Canada than in the US, and I have heard the term "blue greens" and "eco-capitalists" floating around. Their leader is a former member of the Progressive Conservatives.  Other fringe parties include the Christian Heritage Party (similar to US Republicans) Marijuana Party, Communist Party, Marxist-Leninist Party, Canadian Action Party, Progressive Canadian and even a Libertarian Party.

A bit more about the Progressive Conservatives.
They may be dead on the federal level, but still exist in many provinces. In Alberta, they have a monopoly over the government, and are very right-winged. (US Republicans) In the Yukon they became the Yukon Party and I would say are centrist (eg. supports gay marriage) they also changed their name in Saskatchewan after some scandals (now Saskatchewan Party) but them along with the Manitoba PC's havent formed a government recently, so I dont know what they are like. In Ontario, the PC's are right of centre, more centrist now with John Tory as their leader. Mike Harris was especially economically right-winged with his "common-sense revolution". There are no PC's in Quebec, the right wing vote goes to the ADQ "Action Democratique du Quebec"  , however they are also seperatist (along with the more notable left wing Parti Quebecois). In Atlantic Canada, the Conservatives are much more moderate, but for some reason are the most likely in Canada to support George Bush.

Now for the Liberals:
In BC the Liberals are right of centre, and are nothing like the federal liberals. In SK and MB the Liberal parties have basically died out. (Im not sure how they stand in Alberta). In Ontario, the Liberals are left-of centre. Traditionally thought, they have campaigned far to the right of the Conservatives, but that has recently changed. In Quebec, the Liberals are centrist, their leader is the former leader of the national Progressive Conservative Party. They are also the only federalist party in Quebec. Im not really sure about the atlantic.

Also note, in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut there are no parties, and we rarely have any parties in municipal elections. (Exceptions: Vancouver and Montreal, however they are much different then provincial and federal parties)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Most Nova Scotia Liberals would be Dippers anywhere else

[Tory]

Conservatives-extremist right wing, merged from the Canadian Alliance (really really right wing) and Progressive Conservatives (almost libertarian) in December 2003, hoped to win in June 2004, made gains but still lost

What are you smokin mate? May I have some?

[2952-0-0]

Conservatives-extremist right wing, merged from the Canadian Alliance (really really right wing) and Progressive Conservatives (almost libertarian) in December 2003, hoped to win in June 2004, made gains but still lost

What are you smokin mate? May I have some?

Unless they get rid of Stephen Harper as their leader they're doomed to the Opposition. My parents are Tories and because Harper was such an extremist my dad, who is more libertarian, almost voted Green. Oh, and I don't smoke.

[Silent Hunter]

Here's a question:

Before Labour were a national force (i.e. pre-1945), how did the London County Council are go in elections?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Here's a question:

Before Labour were a national force (i.e. pre-1945), how did the London County Council are go in elections?

I know for a fact that Labour won overall control in 1934 (under Herbert Morrison) and held it until it was abolished and replaced by the GLC in the '60's.

[Silent Hunter]

Thanks for that. What about the area parliamentarily?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Thanks for that. What about the area parliamentarily?

Mostly Labour I think... although I think the Tories did well in '31 (I know they won Camberwell).

[Middle-aged Europe]

1) What parties do the states in Germany lean towards. All I know is the CSU runs only in Germany.

In addition to Lewis Trondheim´s comments perhaps you will find these maps helpful. They show the strength of each party in each constituency for the last Bundestag elections in 2002 and make regional differences visible.

SPD: http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/bundestagswahl2002/deutsch/ergebnis2002/themat_karten/html/spd.htm

CDU/CSU:
http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/bundestagswahl2002/deutsch/ergebnis2002/themat_karten/html/cducsu.htm

Greens:
http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/bundestagswahl2002/deutsch/ergebnis2002/themat_karten/html/gruene.htm

FDP:
http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/bundestagswahl2002/deutsch/ergebnis2002/themat_karten/html/fdp.htm

PDS:
http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/bundestagswahl2002/deutsch/ergebnis2002/themat_karten/html/pds.htm


Similar maps for the 1998 election:

http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/ergeb98/spd.htm

http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/ergeb98/cducsu.htm

http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/ergeb98/gruene.htm

http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/ergeb98/fdp.htm

http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/wahlen/ergeb98/pds.htm

[Hatman 🍁]

Conservatives-extremist right wing, merged from the Canadian Alliance (really really right wing) and Progressive Conservatives (almost libertarian) in December 2003, hoped to win in June 2004, made gains but still lost

What are you smokin mate? May I have some?

Unless they get rid of Stephen Harper as their leader they're doomed to the Opposition. My parents are Tories and because Harper was such an extremist my dad, who is more libertarian, almost voted Green. Oh, and I don't smoke.

Well, they are extremists for Canadian standards, but compared to the US they are a bunch of Liberal Democrats

[Jake]

Could anyone tell me what parts of Northern Ireland are Protestant and which are catholic?

[Tory]

There arent specifically large areas where Catholics or Protestants live. They generally live in the same cities, just differant communities.

For instance, East Belfast is pretty Protestant and looks just like your typical city in the English midlands. West Belfast makes Falluja look like paradise. It's a messy mixture of protestant and catholic neighborhoods, the two biggest being Shankill(Pr.) and The Falls(Cath.). They are seperated by "peace lines"(think Berlin Wall).

The West of the country is more Catholic, the east more Protestant. With the exception of West Belfast, Catholics tend to be rural, and Protestants tend to live in the cities.

[Jake]

There arent specifically large areas where Catholics or Protestants live. They generally live in the same cities, just differant communities.

For instance, East Belfast is pretty Protestant and looks just like your typical city in the English midlands. West Belfast makes Falluja look like paradise. It's a messy mixture of protestant and catholic neighborhoods, the two biggest being Shankill(Pr.) and The Falls(Cath.). They are seperated by "peace lines"(think Berlin Wall).

The West of the country is more Catholic, the east more Protestant. With the exception of West Belfast, Catholics tend to be rural, and Protestants tend to live in the cities.

That's what I thought. Thanks

[Colin]

Conservatives-extremist right wing, merged from the Canadian Alliance (really really right wing) and Progressive Conservatives (almost libertarian) in December 2003, hoped to win in June 2004, made gains but still lost

What are you smokin mate? May I have some?

Unless they get rid of Stephen Harper as their leader they're doomed to the Opposition. My parents are Tories and because Harper was such an extremist my dad, who is more libertarian, almost voted Green. Oh, and I don't smoke.

Well, they are extremists for Canadian standards, but compared to the US they are a bunch of Liberal Democrats

How so? Give me this Mr. Harper's positions and let me be the judge of that.

[Hatman 🍁]

Conservatives-extremist right wing, merged from the Canadian Alliance (really really right wing) and Progressive Conservatives (almost libertarian) in December 2003, hoped to win in June 2004, made gains but still lost

What are you smokin mate? May I have some?

Unless they get rid of Stephen Harper as their leader they're doomed to the Opposition. My parents are Tories and because Harper was such an extremist my dad, who is more libertarian, almost voted Green. Oh, and I don't smoke.

Well, they are extremists for Canadian standards, but compared to the US they are a bunch of Liberal Democrats

How so? Give me this Mr. Harper's positions and let me be the judge of that.

Ok...

The Conservative Party supports socialized medicine, The Conservative Party vows to  "fight for low-income Canadians. " It vows to "fight for students" Mr Harper himself is in favour of same-sex unions (but not SSM) . The Conservatives will "fight for immigrants" and "fight for a cleaner environment"

These are some of the more left wing ideas they have. They do however have some right wing ideas (just like the Democrats) but as you can see, they Conservatives support things the Democrats wont even touch for being considered too Liberal.

One of the things I was taught in a politics class I had was this:

<---left--NDP---Liberal---Conservatives--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Democrats-Republicans-----right--->

[Platypus]

Here it's:

Greens---------------------ALP---Democrats------Coalition-----One Nation
----------------------------------Democrats----------------Republicans---------

[patrick1]

Jake here you go re: N. Ireland religion breakdown

http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/images/maps/2001religionwardsni1.jpg
see the link- graphic is way too big

Derry or Londonderry is an overwhelmingly Catholic city- Catholics live in the Bogside on left bank of the Foyle and the Protestants are generally confined to the right bank called the Waterside.  When you cross the bridge to go to the Bogside you see the Mural "You are now entering Free Derry"  Belfast used to be a huge Protestant city with the Harland and Wolff shipyard (built Titantic) dominating employment-Catholics were not hired until fairly recently.  Belfast is now around 50/50.  If you go to Northern Ireland (at least when I went in 1999) you will usually  know what area you are in.  If you see King William murals and Red White and Blue you are in a Protestant neighborhood. If you see the Irish Tricolour you are in a Catholic neighborhood. 

[minionofmidas]

Thanks, great map.

[Tory]

Here it's:

Greens---------------------ALP---Democrats------Coalition-----One Nation
----------------------------------Democrats----------------Republicans---------

Neato

Here is Britain's
-------------------- UKGreens----------------------------------------
RESPECT---------Labour--LibDems---Tories------UKIP-----BNP
------------------------------Democrats----Republicans-----------