I’m curious. How is politics played in your State/Province/Region?
In Germany, students of law and social studies enter one of the 4 or 5 established parties and work their way up. By several laws of financial support of parties by the state, and some rather high limits as to when a political party is recognised as one, it is an established class of society which does "the works" in politics, with close affiliations to lobby groups and NGOs.
What qualities are required in a leader?
Sometimes, to be the only one surviving. Old chancellor Kohl squelched any attempt to raise from the ranks while he was the Grand Poobah of Germany, the CDU (his party) and everything.
Do they rule by consensus or by fear?
Angela Merkel (present chancellor) works by consensus. As she's leading a big coalition of the twwo large parties, she has to. Her predecessor Schroeder ruled by leadership, his predecessor Kohl by fear.
Are the colourful characters or steady managers?
Angela Merkel tries very hard not to be too colourful. Successfully.
What does the electorate respond to?
Hm ... to "hey, electorate, over here!!" ?
What are the issues that always crop up?
The usual: unemployment, immigration issues, threat of decreasing personal wealth.
Who or what is seen as a threat?
Depends. Sometimes (bird flu times) it's literally "to chicken out", but there is both a threat from fundamentalist immigrants as well as from Neonazis to be observed.
What ideologies are popular?
With its established cloass of politicians, people are rather subservient than independent … and take revenge by bickering about "those guys up there". Luckily, we have rather weak influence from organised religions (churches) and rather isolated unions. But the predominant German ideology today is, in my guess, pessimism, in its guise of forced optimism.
What sorts of things does a Government that is seen as being good do?
The government is, at the moment, working very hard to find a way out of the state debt/budget misery as well as clearing up bureaucratic overgrowth. As this work is done by bureaucrats, I look forward to seeing Sisyphos' job finished first.
What do people see as the role of Government, and what do they expect from it?
Provision of social security and wealth, building of even more motorways, but preferably not in my backyard.
Enlighten me.
You
are an enlightened person.