BIG TENT POLITICS

By Abdul Halim Saad

Big Tent politics refers to a “catch-all” political party that has many different political parties or groups or ideology within the general framework of the party.

Normally, the Big Tent political group has a policy of permitting, inviting or encouraging other political parties or groups to join even though with separate political ideologies.

This is in contrast to a party that defends a predetermined political ideology and seeks to accept voters who adhere only to that ideology.

What are the advantages of Big Tent politics?

Open to all concepts. The Big Tent politics is inclusive and is open to all either upper class, middle class or all age groups, with different backgrounds and interests to be its members.

Broad-based ideologies. Its ideologies are diversified and wide either rightist, leftist, centrist, nationalist or the next generation to attract more party members, more supporters and more voters.

Make your own deals. As a big organization, party members are allowed to make their own political deals with other political factions and it is believed that making their own deals can make the Big Tent organisation strong.

Encourage brokerage politics. Big Tent party has a distinctive “brokerage” approach to politics as well as a franchise-style structure that ties the local grassroots supporters to the national leadership.

Encourage factional politics. Big Tent political parties represent a huge variety of factions, groups and constituents comprising various political wings for example the progressive wings, liberal wings or centrist wings.

Make the union stronger. As a coalition politics that has a diversified spectrum of political ideologies, the Big Tent can turn into a more attractive political group with the opportunity to become a stronger union.

More manpower for election work. Due to its diversified and broad-based character, Big Tent parties, with many political groups of parties, may have more staff, workers and party volunteers for national election work.

More winning edge. With more members and more ideology, Big Tent has more chances of getting more votes and finally more chances to have more seats in parliament. compared to the ideologically closed political parties.

More political donations. Due to the number of participating parties and the diversification of ideologies, Big Tent parties are able to receive more political donations from a wider group or sources making it financially viable.

Prevent ideological conflict. Conflict over ideology or clash of political interests can be prevented between the political groups as each political group in the Big Tent organization has its own forte.

More strong leaders. The Big Tent system, by virtue of its broad-based ideology, has the likelihood of having more credible, talented influential leaders with strong leadership qualities.

More social media followers. Big Tent political organizations are fortunate to make use of huge social media followers to the tune of millions especially in electioneering and campaigning work.

Big benefits for geographically large nations. The internet and multimedia bring huge benefits to the Big Tent political groups particularly in big sized countries such as Canada, Brazil or Australia and countries with bigger populations like the US and India.

Do well in elections. Due to their size, Big Tent coalition parties typically do well in elections, capitalizing on the diverse nature of their base to secure big poll numbers.

Leadership training. One of the biggest contributions of a Big Tent party is the training for future leaders and cadre leaders with varied political spectrum to ensure that it has no shortage of capable leaderships.

Advantages from the multimedia revolution. In the era of huge social media development, the Big Tent political organizations could make full use of the internet in its membership expansion programs and political campaigns..

Trendy and popular among the younger generation. Big Tent politics is getting trendy in the world of party politics and an in-thing in the development of a political union as it is strong, solid and covers a wide spectrum of the society, in particular the young organization.

Who are the Big Tent parties?

Australia. The Liberal Party of Australia is a Big Tent party and is the most dominant party in Australia since the 1920s and now in power since the 2013 election. Its main ideology is conservatism and promoting economic liberalism, free market and social conservatism.

Canada. The Liberal Party of Canada uses a Big Tent philosophy and is the longest-serving federal political party in Canada. The Liberal Party holds power for almost 70 years and has liberalism and centrist as its political ideology.

Finland. The National Coalition Party, founded in 1918, is a Big Tent party positioned on the centre-right and liberal conservative philosophy based on freedom, democracy, equal opportunities, education, multiculturalism, pro-NATO and pro-European, it dominated Finnish national politics for several decades,

France. La Republique en Marche is a Big Tent party with centrist and liberal principles, pro globalization and pro Europe. It was established in 2016, by President Emmanuel Macron with centre-right ideology and won an absolute majority of 308 seats or 53% in parliament.

Germany. The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP) is a center-left social political party in Germany, one of the two major parties of contemporary Germany along with the CDU/CSU and considered as a Big Tent political organization with pro-EU stances.

Italy. The Five Star Movement (M5S) is a catch-all, protest party and its supporters do not share similar policy preferences and are split on major economic and social issues. It is only united largely based on “anti-establishment” and apart from anti establishment, the M5S is populist, anti environmentalist and a very right-wing posture.

India. The Indian National Congress (INC) is a Big Tent party which attracted political support from all classes, religions and castes and as well as a nationalist movement against the British empire. It has won 17 general elections with outright majority seven times only to suffer a spit in 1969.

Japan.The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is traditionally a Big Tent party uniting all groups ranging from centrists and nationalists and new-liberal. The Liberal Democratic was in power from the 1960s until in 1993 when it lost to the Japan New Party but was back in power in 2005 with an absolute majority until the present..

Malaysia. The Hope Pact or Pakatan Harapan, in power from 2018 to 2020, is a Big Tent party with a wide range of political ideology including social liberalism, reformism, social justice, multiculturalism, Islamic modernism, nationalism, and secularism. It is the largest opposition in parliament and won 113 seats or 51% in the 2018 general election.

Mexico. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) which held power in Mexico for 71 uninterrupted years from 1929 to 2000 and founded following the Mexican Revolution, is a Big Tent or catch-all party.

Russia. The United Russia is the largest party in Russia that controls 326 (or 72.44%) of the 450 seats in the Russian parliament having constituted the majority in parliament since 2007 and is often considered as a Big Tent party which proclaims Russian conservatism as its official ideology.

South Africa. The African National Congress (ANC), in power since 1984, is a Big Tent party. It has the ability to include a wide range of political groups most notably the Communist party, the country’s largest trade union the COSATU, business community and traditional leaders.

United Kingdom. The Labour Party is a political party that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists. The Labour Party sits on the centre-left of the political spectrum and its Big Tent arrangement was established in 2007 by Prime Minister Gordon Brown when he included members from outside his Labour party in his cabinet including the Liberal Democrat Party.

United States. The Republican Party is a Big Tent party, established in 1834, with conservatism, centrism, libertarianism, Christian right and supports lower taxes, free market capitalism, restrictions on immigration, increased military spending and gun rights as its main ideology. The Republican won 19 out of 46 US presidents, the highest from any one political party and in 2021, the Republican won 210 house representatives, 52 senatorships, 27 state governorships and 30 state legislatures.

The Democratic Party is the second Big Tent party in the US, founded in 1828, making it the world’s oldest political party with the Republican Party as its main rival. It’s main philosophy is modern liberalism blending it with civil liberty, social equality and support for a mixed economy and advocates finance reform, LGBT rights, criminal justice, immigration reform, gun control and abortion right.

The Democratic Party has 16 out of 46 US presidents and as of 2021, it controls the house of representatives with 218 members and with 48 senators, 23 state governorships, 18 state legislatures, 15 state governments and registered members and it is also the largest party in the US and the 3rd largest in the world.

What are the main problems in Big Tent politics?

Demand for charismatic leaders. It is vital for the Big Tent organization to have charismatic leadership or persons who can exercise command and control of the many political parties under its organization.

High management costs. Due to the fact that the Big Tent organization involves many political parties in its stable, the cost of running the organization may be high.

Struggle for constituency seats. Another perennial problem of Big Tent politics is the struggle for parliamentary seats before a national election especially if it is a coalition of political parties.

Fair cabinet representation. One of the main issues in Big Tent politics is the allocation of ministerial portfolios to represent the various groups in the organization.

Command structure. Issues on command and control in Big Tent organization may develop through time but it can be overcome by having a strong central command and leadership.

Big arguments. It is a normal phenomena for Big Tent parties to have big internal political arguments because Big Tent organization is big and with varied political directions.

Beware of the enemy within. It is normal in any political organization to have internal problems and the existence of t’he enemy within and the organization must be able to nip in the bud.

No rooms for smaller parties. Smaller parties, not in Big Tent political organization, may not do well in national elections, as they do not have a strong electoral base and may be wiped out.

Why is Big Tent politics becoming popular?

Big and strong. Big Tent parties, like the US Republican and Democratic Parties are big, strong and wide-based covering all political spectrum and beliefs and the possibility of breaking-up politically of the Big Tent organization is remote.

21th Century politics. Big Tent politics suits well in the political culture of the 21 century politics of many states of the world where political ideologies have become more diversified.

Trendy politics. Big Tent formulas are becoming popular in the era whereby the absolute majority of singular parties are difficult to obtain and is becoming a political thing of the past.

“When times are tough, constant conflict may be good politics but in the real world, cooperation works better.” – Bill Clinton, US president.

Abdul Halim Saad is head of Asia Pacific Risk Consultancy, studied politics at LSE and Bradford and taught international politics at Sultan Idris Education University, Proton City, Malaysia. (Article No 123 ).*