Party line (politics)
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| + | In [[politics]], '''the line''' or '''the party line''' is an [[idiom]] for a [[political party]] or [[social movement]]'s [[canon]] [[Political agenda|agenda]], as well as ideological elements specific to the organization's [[partisan (political)|partisanship]]. The common phrase [[toe the line|toeing the party line]] describes a person who speaks in a manner that conforms to his political party's agenda. Likewise, a [[party-line vote]] is one in which most or all of the legislators from each political party voted in accordance with that party's policies. In several countries, a [[Whip (politics)|whip]] attempts to ensure this. | ||
| - | '''Winston Smith''' is a [[Character (arts)|fictional character]] and the [[protagonist]] of [[George Orwell]]'s 1949 novel ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]''. The character was employed by Orwell as an [[everyman]] in the setting of the novel, a "central eye ... [the reader] can readily identify with" . Winston Smith works as a clerk in the Records Department of the [[Ministry of Truth]], where his job is to [[historical revisionism (negationism)|rewrite historical documents]] so they match the constantly changing current [[Party line (politics)|party line]]. This involves revising newspaper articles and doctoring photographs — mostly to remove "unpersons," people who have fallen foul of the party. Because of his proximity to the mechanics of rewriting history, Winston Smith nurses doubts about the Party and its monopoly on truth. | + | The [[Marxist-Leninist]] concept (see [[General line of the party]]) of [[democratic centralism]] involves strict adherence to, and defense of, a [[communist party]]'s positions in public. |
| - | Winston Smith, lured into joining a secret organization whose aim is to undermine the dictatorship of "[[Big Brother (1984)|Big Brother]]", is actually being set up by [[O'Brien (1984)|O'Brien]], a government [[espionage|agent]]. Captured and tortured, he eventually betrays his accomplice and lover, [[Julia (1984)|Julia]]. His freedom is finally and completely stripped when he accepts the assertion [[Two + two = five|2+2=5]], a phrase that has entered the lexicon to represent obedience to ideology over rational truth or fact. | + | According to American educator [[Herbert Kohl (educator)|Herbert Kohl]], writing about debates in New York in the late 1940s and early 1950s: |
| + | <blockquote>The term "[[Political correctness|politically correct]]" was used disparagingly, to refer to someone whose loyalty to the CP line overrode compassion, and led to bad politics. It was used by Socialists against Communists, and was meant to separate out Socialists who believed in egalitarian moral ideas from dogmatic Communists who would advocate and defend party positions regardless of their moral substance.</blockquote>On the other hand, in inner-party debate sessions, the line can be questioned, criticized, and changed if necessary. | ||
| - | Orwell conceived of the character sometime around 1945. His first name comes from [[Winston Churchill]], along with the very common surname [[Smith (surname)|Smith]]. | + | Used loosely, the phrase "the party line" may also refer to the non-party organizations such as religious groups, business offices, or a social network that may have a semi-official organizational policy or position that is unrelated to any political party. |
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Manifesto]] | ||
| + | *[[Party platform]] | ||
| + | *[[Message discipline]] | ||
| - | The character of Smith has appeared on television and in film in various adaptations of the novel. The first actor to play the role was [[David Niven]] in an August 27, 1949 radio adaptation of the novel for [[NBC]]'s NBC University Theater. In [[BBC One]]'s ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four (TV programme)|Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'' (1954) he was played by [[Peter Cushing]], and eleven years later in another BBC adaptation, by [[David Buck]]. In the [[1984 (1956 film)|1956 film]], [[Edmond O'Brien]] took the role. In a dramatisation broadcast on [[BBC Home Service]] radio in 1965, [[Patrick Troughton]] voiced the part. In the 1984 film adaptation, ''[[1984 (film)|1984]]'', [[John Hurt]] played Smith. | ||
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In politics, the line or the party line is an idiom for a political party or social movement's canon agenda, as well as ideological elements specific to the organization's partisanship. The common phrase toeing the party line describes a person who speaks in a manner that conforms to his political party's agenda. Likewise, a party-line vote is one in which most or all of the legislators from each political party voted in accordance with that party's policies. In several countries, a whip attempts to ensure this.
The Marxist-Leninist concept (see General line of the party) of democratic centralism involves strict adherence to, and defense of, a communist party's positions in public.
According to American educator Herbert Kohl, writing about debates in New York in the late 1940s and early 1950s:
The term "politically correct" was used disparagingly, to refer to someone whose loyalty to the CP line overrode compassion, and led to bad politics. It was used by Socialists against Communists, and was meant to separate out Socialists who believed in egalitarian moral ideas from dogmatic Communists who would advocate and defend party positions regardless of their moral substance.On the other hand, in inner-party debate sessions, the line can be questioned, criticized, and changed if necessary.
Used loosely, the phrase "the party line" may also refer to the non-party organizations such as religious groups, business offices, or a social network that may have a semi-official organizational policy or position that is unrelated to any political party.
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