Fly a kite (politics)
Encyclopedia
To Fly a Kite is a term used in politics
to describe a tactic whereby a politician either directly themselves informally, or indirectly in the media
, raises an idea to gauge the reaction to it. Depending on the reaction, the idea may be implemented (if the reaction was positive) or disowned and denied (if negative). The benefits of flying a kite is that it allows a controversial issue to be raised in a way that gives a government "deniability" if the reaction is negative, with the Government being able to say "the Minister was speaking personally, not for the Government" if necessary, and so distance itself from an issue that draws a negative response.
Among the examples of flying a kite was the suggestion in the 1960s by then Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan that the Republic of Ireland
should rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations
. He did so on the orders of then Taoiseach
Seán Lemass
. However the reaction was negative and Lemass and Lenihan dropped the issue, with Lemass (with Lenihan's connivance) claiming that Lenihan had just been speaking theoretically in a personal manner and not for the government.
A famous British
example occurred in 1885 when while his father's supposed approval, a son of then Leader of the Opposition William Ewart Gladstone
revealed that Gladstone now supported home rule
for Ireland. The revelation is known in history as the Hawarden Kite
. Historians still debate whether the Hawarden Kite was a deliberate tactical revelation (a case of flying a kite) or an accidental revelation. Whatever the reason the reaction was sufficiently positive for Gladstone to publicly confirm the accuracy of the story and commit to a home rule policy.
One example happened in the country of Singapore
in October 2007 - Minister Mentor Lee
mentioned the idea of Singapore
and the Federation of Malaysia remerging, but the idea was later met with some derision by both parties on either side of the Causeway.
An American equivalent is the term raising the flag and seeing who salutes (i.e., raise an issue and see the reaction).
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
to describe a tactic whereby a politician either directly themselves informally, or indirectly in the media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
, raises an idea to gauge the reaction to it. Depending on the reaction, the idea may be implemented (if the reaction was positive) or disowned and denied (if negative). The benefits of flying a kite is that it allows a controversial issue to be raised in a way that gives a government "deniability" if the reaction is negative, with the Government being able to say "the Minister was speaking personally, not for the Government" if necessary, and so distance itself from an issue that draws a negative response.
Among the examples of flying a kite was the suggestion in the 1960s by then Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan that the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
should rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. He did so on the orders of then Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Seán Lemass
Seán Lemass
Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
. However the reaction was negative and Lemass and Lenihan dropped the issue, with Lemass (with Lenihan's connivance) claiming that Lenihan had just been speaking theoretically in a personal manner and not for the government.
A famous British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
example occurred in 1885 when while his father's supposed approval, a son of then Leader of the Opposition William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
revealed that Gladstone now supported home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
for Ireland. The revelation is known in history as the Hawarden Kite
Hawarden Kite
The Hawarden Kite was a famous British scoop of 1885, an apparent instance of flying a kite, when Herbert Gladstone, son of the then Leader of the Opposition William Ewart Gladstone revealed to Edmund Rogers of the National Press Agency in London that his father now supported home rule for...
. Historians still debate whether the Hawarden Kite was a deliberate tactical revelation (a case of flying a kite) or an accidental revelation. Whatever the reason the reaction was sufficiently positive for Gladstone to publicly confirm the accuracy of the story and commit to a home rule policy.
One example happened in the country of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in October 2007 - Minister Mentor Lee
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
mentioned the idea of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and the Federation of Malaysia remerging, but the idea was later met with some derision by both parties on either side of the Causeway.
An American equivalent is the term raising the flag and seeing who salutes (i.e., raise an issue and see the reaction).