Election Manifesto vs. Mission Statement 

It’s obvious: mission statements are a must for any party that wants to attract voters’ attention. These statements tell the story of the party and its broader purpose. Mission statements should also indicate where the party sits on the ideology spectrum.

The unclarity of mission statements

However, in today’s political environment, these mission statements are, arguably, becoming less important. Mission statements are no longer a clear way to understand a political party’s true nature. In part this is because words used by parties for self-identification are becoming increasingly blurred. For example, far-right parties in the 21st century are communicating that they are fighting for ‘freedom’ just as much as liberal parties.