POLITICAL PARTIES An Instrument in Shaping the Collective Interest.

POLITICAL PARTIESPOLITICAL PARTIESAn Instrument in Shaping the Collective InterestAn Instrument in Shaping the Collective Interest

► Competitive party systemsCompetitive party systems

Work to build electoral support; find what voters Work to build electoral support; find what voters

want, get supporters involved, and represent want, get supporters involved, and represent

these interests within the political processthese interests within the political process

► Authoritarian party systemsAuthoritarian party systems

Noncompetitive systems that seek to direct Noncompetitive systems that seek to direct

society; in some regimes, government & party society; in some regimes, government & party

closely linked, not opposition parties permitted.closely linked, not opposition parties permitted.

Party SystemsParty Systems

► Majoritarian party systemsMajoritarian party systems Accept democratic principles and compete for Accept democratic principles and compete for

governmental positions through the electoral governmental positions through the electoral process in democraciesprocess in democracies

Either dominated by just two parties (US), or Either dominated by just two parties (US), or they have two substantial parties and election they have two substantial parties and election laws that create legislative majorities for one laws that create legislative majorities for one of them (Britain)of them (Britain)

► Multiparty systemsMultiparty systems The multiparty systems have combinations of The multiparty systems have combinations of

parties, voter support, and election laws that parties, voter support, and election laws that virtually ensure no single party wins a virtually ensure no single party wins a legislative majority.legislative majority.

Competitive Party Systems ICompetitive Party Systems I

► Consensual party systemsConsensual party systemsDominating parties not too far apart on policy, Dominating parties not too far apart on policy, have reasonable amount of trust in each other have reasonable amount of trust in each other and political systemand political system

► Conflictual party systemsConflictual party systemsDominating parties are far apart on issues or Dominating parties are far apart on issues or highly antagonistic toward each otherhighly antagonistic toward each other

► Consociational party systemsConsociational party systemsMixed characteristics of the two main party Mixed characteristics of the two main party systemssystems

Competitive Party Systems IICompetitive Party Systems II

► Exclusive governing partiesExclusive governing partiesInsist on control over political resources by the Insist on control over political resources by the party leadership; do not permit activity by social party leadership; do not permit activity by social groups, citizens, or other governmental groups, citizens, or other governmental agencies.agencies.

► Inclusive governing partiesInclusive governing partiesRecognize and attempt to coordinate various Recognize and attempt to coordinate various social groups in the society; accept and social groups in the society; accept and aggregate certain autonomous interests, while aggregate certain autonomous interests, while repressing others.repressing others.

Authoritarian Party SystemsAuthoritarian Party Systems

► Traditional authoritarian RegimesTraditional authoritarian Regimes Parties are less significant because of rule by an Parties are less significant because of rule by an

group who rule in their own interests, especially group who rule in their own interests, especially the gaining of wealth and privilege.the gaining of wealth and privilege.

► Communist statesCommunist states Parties were the central political instrument Parties were the central political instrument

though which leaders sought, and sometimes though which leaders sought, and sometimes achieved, total control over society. Hence there achieved, total control over society. Hence there are few cases of authoritarian rule where the are few cases of authoritarian rule where the political party is the true source of power.political party is the true source of power.

► Totalitarian StatesTotalitarian States Parties am at total political, social, and economic Parties am at total political, social, and economic

controlcontrol Subjugation and attempted transformation of Subjugation and attempted transformation of

societysociety Extensive use of violenceExtensive use of violence

Comparing Parties in Authoritarian StatesComparing Parties in Authoritarian States

► Citizens organize political activity through Citizens organize political activity through partiesparties

► Parties develop out of differences about how to Parties develop out of differences about how to achieve common goalsachieve common goals

► Want to win office and put forward leaders in Want to win office and put forward leaders in governmentgovernment

► Want to have an impact on public policy Want to have an impact on public policy ► Even when losing office, parties perform a Even when losing office, parties perform a

useful role in a democracy, by organizing the useful role in a democracy, by organizing the opposition.opposition.

► Create important links between the voter, Create important links between the voter, groups and government.groups and government.

► In order to succeed, parties make the effort to In order to succeed, parties make the effort to build consensusbuild consensus

Purpose of Political PartyPurpose of Political PartyIN DEMOCRACYIN DEMOCRACY

► Parties mobilize ordinary citizens, either to vote Parties mobilize ordinary citizens, either to vote or to achieve some other political goalor to achieve some other political goal

► Parties recruit and socialize leaders, even in Parties recruit and socialize leaders, even in one-party statesone-party states

► Parties provide a long-lasting sense of party Parties provide a long-lasting sense of party identificationidentification

► Parties can provide a means for party leaders to Parties can provide a means for party leaders to control rank and file memberscontrol rank and file members

► Parties provide links between:Parties provide links between: branches of government in a separation of powersbranches of government in a separation of powers levels of government in a federal systemlevels of government in a federal system citizens and government in all systemscitizens and government in all systems

Functions of Political PartiesFunctions of Political PartiesIN DEMOCRACYIN DEMOCRACY

► Parties mobilize support for the regimeParties mobilize support for the regime► Parties recruit and train potential leadersParties recruit and train potential leaders► Parties oversee the bureaucracyParties oversee the bureaucracy► Parties spy on population (in totalitarian Parties spy on population (in totalitarian

systems)systems)► Parties link between the bottom and top, but a Parties link between the bottom and top, but a

means of social control by the top over the means of social control by the top over the bottombottom

► Parties organize government and formulate Parties organize government and formulate government policies & programsgovernment policies & programs

► Parties socialize people who are closely involved Parties socialize people who are closely involved in party organizations & are engaged in in party organizations & are engaged in “political education” (in communist system)“political education” (in communist system)

Functions of Political PartiesFunctions of Political PartiesIN NON-DEMOCRACYIN NON-DEMOCRACY

► Dominant party system (e.g., Japan, Dominant party system (e.g., Japan, Singapore)Singapore) One-party dominates for long periods of timeOne-party dominates for long periods of time No legal ban on other parties, but only one party No legal ban on other parties, but only one party

has chance to win officehas chance to win office There may be informal harassment of opposition There may be informal harassment of opposition

partiesparties

► Two party system (e.g., US, Canada, Two party system (e.g., US, Canada, Britain)Britain) Either party has genuine chance to win office, Either party has genuine chance to win office,

elections truly competitiveelections truly competitive Additional parties not outlawed but have serious Additional parties not outlawed but have serious

difficulty winning because of electoral systemdifficulty winning because of electoral system Voters are limited to two choicesVoters are limited to two choices

Types of Political Parties ITypes of Political Parties I

► Multi-party system (e.g., Italy, Germany)Multi-party system (e.g., Italy, Germany) Competitive elections within multiple parties Competitive elections within multiple parties

ensure that no one party can dominate for long.ensure that no one party can dominate for long. Parties tend to be more doctrinaire and Parties tend to be more doctrinaire and

distinctive, giving voters more choice.distinctive, giving voters more choice. In the system, it is difficult for any one party to In the system, it is difficult for any one party to

win a majority.win a majority. Coalitions with similar parties become Coalitions with similar parties become

necessary.necessary. The system is less stable because coalition The system is less stable because coalition

partners may resign over particular government partners may resign over particular government policies.policies.

Types of Political Parties IITypes of Political Parties II

► In all democracies, at least one branch of In all democracies, at least one branch of government is filled through popular election: government is filled through popular election: the legislature.the legislature.

► In presidential democracies, the chief In presidential democracies, the chief executive is elected by the people either executive is elected by the people either directly or indirectly through an Electoral directly or indirectly through an Electoral College or similar institution.College or similar institution.

► The main difference is between single-The main difference is between single-member district system (one candidate is member district system (one candidate is elected in each district) and multi-member elected in each district) and multi-member district elections (as many as 150 different district elections (as many as 150 different candidates may be elected in a single district)candidates may be elected in a single district)

Voting and Elections IVoting and Elections I

► Single-member District ElectionsSingle-member District Elections Plurality elections (candidate with the largest Plurality elections (candidate with the largest

number of votes wins, regardless of the actual number of votes wins, regardless of the actual number)number)

Majority elections (the winning candidate must Majority elections (the winning candidate must gain the votes of more than half the voters; if no gain the votes of more than half the voters; if no candidate wins a majority, there is then often a candidate wins a majority, there is then often a run-off election to determine the winner)run-off election to determine the winner)

► Multi-member District ElectionsMulti-member District Elections Usually combined with any variety of Usually combined with any variety of

proportional representation (PR) system. PR proportional representation (PR) system. PR systems try to assign seats (e.g., in a legislature) systems try to assign seats (e.g., in a legislature) in proportion to the votes that each party in proportion to the votes that each party receives.receives.

Voting and Elections IIVoting and Elections II

► In the Westminster or In the Westminster or majoritarianmajoritarian model of democracy model of democracy (in the form of a powerful present or a Westminster-(in the form of a powerful present or a Westminster-style, dominant one-party cabinet), power is style, dominant one-party cabinet), power is concentrated in the hands of the majority party.concentrated in the hands of the majority party.

► This consensus model of democracy compels PR to be This consensus model of democracy compels PR to be associated with multiparty systems, coalition associated with multiparty systems, coalition governments, and more equal executive-legislative governments, and more equal executive-legislative power relations (in presidentialism, there is the danger power relations (in presidentialism, there is the danger of executive-legislative conflict while president holds of executive-legislative conflict while president holds strong and effective leadership role).strong and effective leadership role).

► The relationship between plurality elections and a two-The relationship between plurality elections and a two-party system are mutual (both favor each other).party system are mutual (both favor each other).

► An argument in favor of plurality systems (e.g., US and An argument in favor of plurality systems (e.g., US and UK) has been that they favor "strong" one-party UK) has been that they favor "strong" one-party governments that can pursue "effective" public policy.governments that can pursue "effective" public policy.

““Constitutional Choice”Constitutional Choice”Lijphart, 1993Lijphart, 1993

► The records show that parliamentary-PR The records show that parliamentary-PR systems are better in dealing with the issues systems are better in dealing with the issues of representation, protection of minority of representation, protection of minority interest, voter participation, and control of interest, voter participation, and control of unemployment.unemployment. In the newly democratic and democratizing In the newly democratic and democratizing

countries, the divided societies need peaceful countries, the divided societies need peaceful coexistence among the contending ethnic coexistence among the contending ethnic groups. groups.

Parliamentary and PR systems facilitate power Parliamentary and PR systems facilitate power sharing, conciliation, and compromise.sharing, conciliation, and compromise.

Although one-party cabinets or presidents may Although one-party cabinets or presidents may well be able to formulate economic policy with well be able to formulate economic policy with greater ease and speed in the short run, greater ease and speed in the short run, policies supported by a broad consensus are policies supported by a broad consensus are more likely to be successfully carried out and more likely to be successfully carried out and to remain on course.to remain on course.

““Constitutional Choice”Constitutional Choice”Lijphart, 1993Lijphart, 1993

► Change of party structureChange of party structure In established democracies, weak, In established democracies, weak,

decentralized party organizations and social decentralized party organizations and social democratic parties are no longer fired by democratic parties are no longer fired by ideology. ideology.

In communist states, old-style communist In communist states, old-style communist parties virtually disappear.parties virtually disappear.

► Decrease of party incomeDecrease of party income Increasingly depend on state subsidies rather Increasingly depend on state subsidies rather

than members’ subscriptionsthan members’ subscriptions► Party membership become falling & ageing► Voters’ loyalties are weakening► Individual politicians increasingly

communicate with electors directly

A “Crisis of Parties”?A “Crisis of Parties”?