Politicians on television ‘must appeal to the crowd’

Press, 4 August 1987, Page 12

Politicians on television ‘must appeal to the crowd’

PA Wellington Demagoguery is an essential element in democratic politics and television has heightened this, says a political scientist, Dr Les Cleveland. “There is a necessity to appeal to the crowd and arouse the emotions.” Television lent itself to a concentration on triviality. “It’s very suitable to the orator and the mass persuader,” he said in an interview. Dr Cleveland, aged 65, reader in political science at Victoria University, retired at the end of July to take up a Senior Research Fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington. He joined the university as a lecturer in 1966, becoming senior lecturer in 1970, and reader in 1979. Before that he had

i been a soldier, journalist, and bush contractor. His poems from a ■ World War II anthology • have been likened by , “The Times” Literary , Supplement to those of Rupert Brooke in World > War I. I Soon to be published is his book, "Dark Laughter: > Soldiers’ Songs from - World War Ito Vietnam,” > reflecting an interest in ; men’s reaction to war that i will continue at the Smithsonian where he will es- , tablish an archival base > for military songs. His service with the > New Zeland Army in the i Pacific and Italy from 1941-46 made an indelible ■ impression. “In Italy I was in an r infantry company in- , volved in hazardous - activities. It was a suri vival problem and sheer I luck for any of us to come

out uinimpaired.” On reflection, he was probably rather disturbed at the whole experience. “I am still revolving it in my mind.” Over the years, he has collected much written material, most of it informal, on military behaviour. “So much so that it now has archival value.” With the ageing of the Second World War generation, such material had an increasing social significance. "I am more interested in meaning than in compiling chronicles.” Dr Cleveland became a reporter on “The Press” just before World War II broke out. On his return to New Zealand, he took up journalism again and his varied career included being chief reporter of “Truth.” “But I got sick of jour-

nalism as it was then. It s was a more subdued ac--1 tivity with a very plain . style. I could see myself i slaving away for decades and gradually becoming 5 institutionalised so I faded i out.” Being a bush contractor - gave him time to indulge t in his love for climbing and ski-ing. Meanwhile, ; he finished a degree part-, ■ time, edited a number of 1 technical journals, and - wrote short stories. At Victoria University 1 he became increasingly • involved in teaching political science and eventui ally joined the staff full- ’ time. [ Asked to compare polii tics then with now, he r noted that politicians 1 could still get by without I being on television. f “Holyoake was the first Prime Minister to come to terms with televison

and was surprisingly clever. “He used to look at the take and if he did not like it make them repeat the interview. Back in those days broadcasting was more subservient to politicians.” Dr Cleveland noted that Adolf Hitler, was the first politician to make system- , atic and innovative use of radio and film. Today, television and public relations encourage the presentation of politics in terms of personalities rather than policies and doctrines, he believes. Twenty or more years ago, political parties put a lot of hard documentation in their manifestos. “They would show an astonishing fidelity in trying to implement manifesto policies. “These days, manifestos are glossy, short on detail and vague,”, he said.