Designer Politics: How Elections Are Won - Hardcover

Scammell, Margaret

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0333586719 ISBN 13: 9780333586716

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 1995

Synopsis

This is the first book to offer a serious examination of the phenomenon of political marketing in Britain. It presents an analysis of the increasingly influential role of the image-makers and casts a critical eye over the debate concerning the impact of marketing on political conduct and governance. Its primary focus is party and government communications in the Thatcher era and beyond, up to and including the 1992 general election. It argues that Thatcher, despite her image as the resolute politician, pioneered marketing techniques and concepts which have since become standard practice. Designer Politics looks at the historical engines of growth of commercial salesmanship in politics. It explores how political culture and conduct have been affected by the phenomenon and to what extent politics and policy have been remoulded to fit the marketing process. The author challenges the prevailing pessimism that Britain is hurtling towards American presidential-style campaigns and that marketing necessarily demeans and undermines democracy. While there are inherent dangers, there also comes new potential for a more genuinely popular democracy.

About this title

Review:

'If Scammell's own learning process continues as it develops in this book, she might become one of the best political analysts.' - Malcolm Rutherford, Financial Times
'...the most comprehensive description and analysis so far of the growth of political marketing in this Country. This is a first class account and contains some fascinating material.' - Ivor Gaber, British Journalism Review

Synopsis:

'If Scammell's own learning process continues as it develops in this book, she might become one of the best political analysts.' - Malcolm Rutherford, Financial Times `...the most comprehensive description and analysis so far of the growth of political marketing in this Country. This is a first class account and contains some fascinating material.' - Ivor Gaber, British Journalism Review This is the first book to offer a serious examination of the phenomenon of political marketing in Britain. It presents an analysis of the increasingly influential role of the image-makers and casts a critical eye over the debate concerning the impact of marketing on political conduct and governance. Its primary focus is party and government communications in the Thatcher era and beyond, up to and including the 1992 general election. It argues that Thatcher, despite her image as the resolute politician, pioneered marketing techniques and concepts which have since become standard practice.

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0333586719
• ISBN 13: 9780333586716
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 358