The Student Room Group

How do develop political opinion?

I don't really have any political opinions. I guess I support Labour sort of because I believe we should help the poor but that's it. Recently I saw a video on BBC news with a guy asking people to decide who was better for business out of George Osbourne and Ed Balls...but I mean how do people really make their opinions on that? Every time I read an interview of a politician I just end up accepting what they say and not having any opinions on it and mostly agreeing with it, and then agreeing with the counter argument before.

How can I develop political opinions so I don't feel so stupid when people around me discuss politics?

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
The only answer is to educate yourself. Read newspapers and political magazines, watch political shows and the deliberations of both Houses of Parliament. Take classes and engage in debate with your friends.

Make notes on stuff you find compelling and try to memorise it.

You may find yourself remembering facts that contradict what you are being told by someone else, or that you don't quite understand. Then you ask further questions and learn which is more factual or persuasive to you.

By doing this, your opinions will firm up.
Reply 2
Original post by jonnny
I don't really have any political opinions. I guess I support Labour sort of because I believe we should help the poor but that's it. Recently I saw a video on BBC news with a guy asking people to decide who was better for business out of George Osbourne and Ed Balls...but I mean how do people really make their opinions on that? Every time I read an interview of a politician I just end up accepting what they say and not having any opinions on it and mostly agreeing with it, and then agreeing with the counter argument before.

How can I develop political opinions so I don't feel so stupid when people around me discuss politics?


As gladders says, much of it is about reading political material. Might I recommend some materials:

Newspapers and Magazines

If you can only read quality newspapers. The following are usually considered quality papers:

- The Times
- The Telegraph
- The Financial Times
- The Economist
- The Spectator
- BBC News Online
- The Independent
- The Guardian
- The New Statesman

Political Blogs
Obviously political blogs are usually biased in one direction or another. I try and read one blog from each 'camp' if I can. I generally find understanding all political opinions is useful.

- ConservativeHome (Conservative Party associated)
- Left Foot Forward (Labour Party associated)
- Liberal Democrat Voice (Liberal Democrat Party associated)
- UK Polling Report (Independent and highly professional)
- Ashcroft Polls (Independent polling; Conservative associated commentary)
- e-International Relations
- LSE British Politics and Policy Blog
- Democratic Audit

Books:
There are literally tonnes of books on politics and there is no way that I can make a short and effective list. I can recommend a few good texts, however:

- Britain Since 1945 by David Childs (Dry but useful)
- Developments in British Politics by Heffernan, Crowley and Hay
- Politics and Government in the UK by Michael Moran
- Comparative Politics by Caramani
- Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-six Countries by Arend Lijphart
- The Republic by Plato
- Politics by Aristotle
- The Prince by Machiavelli
- Leviathan by Hobbes
- Two Treatise of Government by Locke
- Reflections on Revolutions in France by Burke
- On Liberty by Mill
- Communist Manifesto* by Marx
- Downing Street Years by Margaret Thatcher
- Animal Farm: A Fairy Story by George Orwell

A fair number of these books can be hard-going if you are new to comparative politics and political philosophy.

The most important thing is to approach everything with a critical mind. Do not accept anything that you are told without thinking about it. Think about why this person is saying what they are saying; think about when something was written; where it was written; think about what the author has to gain. So long as you think critically, you will do fine.
Reply 3
I'm a libertarian and this is largely based on my personality. I'm easy-going, and don't really give a **** what others do provided it's not hurting me or anybody I care about.

I think most base their politics on their personality or upbringing. I think by and large people are socialists for instance because they grew up in poor households or face disadvantages. Not saying everybody is like that (Tony Benn and Tony Blair didn't grow up in poverty), but then it's just an example.
Im a floating voter
Original post by jonnny
I don't really have any political opinions. I guess I support Labour sort of because I believe we should help the poor but that's it. Recently I saw a video on BBC news with a guy asking people to decide who was better for business out of George Osbourne and Ed Balls...but I mean how do people really make their opinions on that? Every time I read an interview of a politician I just end up accepting what they say and not having any opinions on it and mostly agreeing with it, and then agreeing with the counter argument before.

How can I develop political opinions so I don't feel so stupid when people around me discuss politics?


You need to get involved. There's no tome or book that will grant you all political knowledge. You firstly need to question your own beliefs about society: what do you think society should be like? It's a good idea to look at the various political manifestos of the various parties. Obviously, you should be watching and engaging with the news (not tabloids) on a daily basis.
Reply 6
Like everything else, base your opinion on your narcissism.
Original post by jonnny
I don't really have any political opinions. I guess I support Labour sort of because I believe we should help the poor but that's it. Recently I saw a video on BBC news with a guy asking people to decide who was better for business out of George Osbourne and Ed Balls...but I mean how do people really make their opinions on that? Every time I read an interview of a politician I just end up accepting what they say and not having any opinions on it and mostly agreeing with it, and then agreeing with the counter argument before.

How can I develop political opinions so I don't feel so stupid when people around me discuss politics?


Get angry at something, basically.

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by jonnny
I don't really have any political opinions. I guess I support Labour sort of because I believe we should help the poor but that's it. Recently I saw a video on BBC news with a guy asking people to decide who was better for business out of George Osbourne and Ed Balls...but I mean how do people really make their opinions on that? Every time I read an interview of a politician I just end up accepting what they say and not having any opinions on it and mostly agreeing with it, and then agreeing with the counter argument before.

How can I develop political opinions so I don't feel so stupid when people around me discuss politics?


Here's a rough starting point at least as far as economics is concerned:

1. Do you believe people should be rewarded mostly according to their status and money?
2..Do you believe people should be rewarded mostly according to their productivity?
3. Do you believe people should be rewarded mostly according to their effort?
4. Do you believe people should be rewarded mostly according to their needs?

1. Probably conservatism of some kind.
2. Probably liberalism of some kind.
3. Probably socialism of some kind.
4. Probably Marxist of some kind.
I took Politics and my history course was very Political at College simply out of interest. More or less ended up adopting views over time as a result.

But yes reading papers and watching the news and coming up with your own conclusions is very valuable as to what your views are.
As Teaddict mentioned, definitely one of the best things you can do is read a good breadth of political books. That's the way to be the most informed, politically-literate individual you can. They might prove quite intimidating at first though. I'd start by watching current affairs TV - most obviously Question Time, PMQs - and reading newspapers. Read a little from several newspapers though, i.e. don't solely read the Guardian or Telegraph. BBC is generally a fairly reliable source (in terms of the news website; some of its programming is accused of having a somewhat Left-wing bias, but I think that's over-exaggerated). Work your way up to more serious political literature :biggrin: Mostly importantly, be patient! Politics can be very complex: it takes time to cultivated an informed, balanced opinion.
Original post by Cassius1993
...BBC is generally a fairly reliable source (in terms of the news website; some of its programming is accused of having a somewhat Left-wing bias, but I think that's over-exaggerated)...


Yeah, we only need to make a casual observation of how adulating the BBC is of the Royal Family to recognise their establishment orientation.
Pick a party or an ideology and blindly repeat the official line until you're blue in the face.
Reply 13
Original post by Teaddict


- Britain Since 1945 by David Childs (Dry but useful)


I have this, I stopped reading it though and started reading Post-War Britain; A Political History by Alan Sked and Chris Cook.

It's only the second edition, published in 1984 as opposed to David Child's recent one which goes up to David Cameron, but I don't know there is just something that Alan Sked's book that makes me want to read it more. I think it's the fact that the book is small, it;s got a nice book cover (I know the saying never judge by the cover but yeah) and I like the brown-yellowish pages, makes the book seem more approachable. David Child's books reminds me of a dull, thick text book just by looking at it.

Maybe I will give it another try after finishing Alan Sked's book first. Thanks for the awesome list of books, I have been wanting to expand my knowledge on politics too. It kind of demotivates me because there are so many books in the library all on the same topic (you could probably get over 100 books on British Politics or post war Britain respectively) therefore I never know which ones to choose. Looks like I have got a lot of reading to do.... :colonhash:
Reply 14
Original post by Ruffiio
I have this, I stopped reading it though and started reading Post-War Britain; A Political History by Alan Sked and Chris Cook.

It's only the second edition, published in 1984 as opposed to David Child's recent one which goes up to David Cameron, but I don't know there is just something that Alan Sked's book that makes me want to read it more. I think it's the fact that the book is small, it;s got a nice book cover (I know the saying never judge by the cover but yeah) and I like the brown-yellowish pages, makes the book seem more approachable. David Child's books reminds me of a dull, thick text book just by looking at it.

Maybe I will give it another try after finishing Alan Sked's book first. Thanks for the awesome list of books, I have been wanting to expand my knowledge on politics too. It kind of demotivates me because there are so many books in the library all on the same topic (you could probably get over 100 books on British Politics or post war Britain respectively) therefore I never know which ones to choose. Looks like I have got a lot of reading to do.... :colonhash:


Alan Sked the former UKIPer :tongue:

You are absolutely right, David Child's book is somewhat dry and very dull. However, in saying that, as a starter text, it is a very informative book. Very useful.

Political Thinkers by Boucher and Kelly is quite good as an introductory text.
Reply 15
Original post by Teaddict
Alan Sked the former UKIPer :tongue:



Are you suggesting that the book is instantly bad then considering he's the founder of UKIP? Or are you just pointing out a fact.

I'm also kind of reading

The Politics of Decline; Understanding Post War Britain

By Tomlinson, Jim
(edited 10 years ago)
Reply 16
I'm still learning, I'm 14, but I was interested if right wing racism at first, that drew me to how the left aren't racist etc ( it's ridicoulus generalisation anyway), anyways I developed it to by listening to a radio station called LBC, gave me an insight in different political views on certain topics, I'm on the Left wing line, but it's to do with my working class background to etc. You have to base apon yourself and base it on your background and experience, what you think would work best
Reply 17
Original post by Ruffiio
Are you suggesting that the book is instantly bad then considering he's the founder of UKIP? Or are you just pointing out a fact.

I'm also kind of reading

The politics of decline: understanding post-war Britain

By Tomlinson, Jim


Not at all. Alan Sked is a very talented academic. Just pointing out a fact :smile:
Reply 18
Original post by Zeroic
I'm still learning, I'm 14, but I was interested if right wing racism at first, that drew me to how the left aren't racist etc ( it's ridicoulus generalisation anyway), anyways I developed it to by listening to a radio station called LBC, gave me an insight in different political views on certain topics, I'm on the Left wing line, but it's to do with my working class background to etc. You have to base apon yourself and base it on your background and experience, what you think would work best


That's silly. I am from a working class background and yet consider myself on the political right.

At the age of 14 you should not wed yourself to a particular ideology. You should always allow your views to be fluid; changing when the evidence changes.
Reply 19
Original post by Teaddict
That's silly. I am from a working class background and yet consider myself on the political right.

At the age of 14 you should not wed yourself to a particular ideology. You should always allow your views to be fluid; changing when the evidence changes.

Which is what I am allowing, I am currently stating my stance at the moment.

Quick Reply

Latest