wedge politics
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English[edit]
Noun[edit]
wedge politics (plural wedge politics)
- (politics) A strategy or pattern of behavior by a politician, political party, or advocacy group which is intended to have a divisive effect on one's political opponents or on the electorate, especially by emphasizing an issue which polarizes opinion along racial, regional, or other demographic lines.
- 1991 October 29, “Racial politics: Duke victory made GOP fear it had gone too far”, in Arizona Daily Star, USA:
- It was an ugly example of wedge politics, the politics of division.
- 2003 March 15, Alan Ramsey, “Hollow ring to Sir Echo”, in Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, retrieved 20 September 2010:
- John Howard . . . has, quite superbly, controlled the political agenda by wedge politics—by dividing the electorate on some emotional issue and forcing the Opposition to side with the moral but unpopular position.
- 2009 June 17, “Flyers alleging Ignatieff is anti-Ukrainian cause stir in Manitoba”, in CBC News, Canada, retrieved 20 September 2010:
- The quotes . . . are part of a Conservative divide-and-conquer strategy, said Liberal MP Anita Neville. "It's the worst kind of wedge politics—pitting one group against another: ‘We love you more than they love you,’" she said.
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
A strategy or pattern of behavior by a politician, political party, or advocacy group which is intended to have a divisive effect on one's political opponents or on the electorate
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