Academics and political practitioners from across the UK and abroad are being invited to attend the 5th annual conference of the Academy of Marketing's Political Marketing Conference to take place at the University of Aberdeen from September 19 - 21, 2002.
Political marketing is a growing area of interest to both political practitioners and the public, as well as being an increasingly significant phenomenon within politics today. This conference aims to bring together a wide range of people involved in the subject to increase communication and understanding amongst, for instance, government officials, members of parliament, and public sector workers.
The conference, Time to Deliver: Political Marketing Moves Beyond the Campaign, seeks to broaden the scope of political marketing and to debate the many aspects of its use and implications for politics generally.
A variety of speakers will attend the event and discuss issues such as marketing of political parties, as well as marketing issues affecting local government, public services, the Scottish Parliament, the Westminster parliament, and the marketing of voting itself.
A key element of the conference will be the opportunity for delegates to debate 'Political Marketing and Democracy' at a special evening event at Aberdeen's Town House on Thursday, September 19. Keynote speaker, David McLetchie, MSP, Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, will address delegates and invited guests to the debate to discuss the benefits of political marketing and its potential to change politics.
Dr Jennifer Lees-Marshment, Department of Management Studies and Organiser of the Conference, said: "There is a revolution occurring in Britain's political system: every area of politics, from political parties, through to Westminster, Holyrood, local councils, universities, schools, hospitals, local councils and even the monarchy, is being challenged by increasingly demanding citizens who want politics run to suit them, not politicians. Political organisations are responding to this by using political marketing: they are designing their product whether it is party policy, council services, degrees, facilities to suit what the public want. This has tremendous ramifications, implying the end of professional autonomy, ideology, and political leadership and transforming democracy as we know it. This conference breaks new ground in being the first event to enable discussion of all these issues by academics, practitioners and the general public."
On Friday 20 September, a public debate, The Scottish Parliament: A Parliament for the People?, will be staged at King's College Conference Centre. The debate will offer a forum for the public to debate the impact of the Scottish Parliament. Alex Salmond, MP, will open the debate, alongside a panel of high-profile political speakers. Entry is by ticket only.
For further information on the Conference or to apply for tickets, contact Prospect CPD, University of Aberdeen, Tel: (01224) 272523, or visit the website: www.cpd.abdn.ac.uk/political/