THEME 4 : Political parties and party systems

THEME OBJECTIVES
This theme aims to explore the functions of political parties in the electoral system,
parliament and government as well as identify the various types of political parties and
discuss reasons for their decline.
Parties and Party Systems
Types of Political Parties
Cadre party: ‘party of notables (elite); informal group of leaders uninterested in mass
org; from factions pre- mass enfranchisement; contemp cadre is highly trained prof
party member offering ideological leadership to masses; strict membership criteria;
CPSU; SACP; Nazi Party etc
Mass party: construct wide electoral base and broad membership; eg European
Socialist parties UKLP & SPD constructed to mobilise WC support; emphasise
recruitment & org over ideology & pol conviction; modern parties ‘catchall’ thus
ideology downplayed; conc on party image & leadership & less on membership &
strong structure
Representative parties: primarily seeking votes; reflect & don’t shape public opinion;
catchall strategy; pragmatism before principle; market research before pop
mobilization Integrative: proactive; mobilse, educate & inspire masses; ideologically
disciplined like cadre parties; eg Socialist parties convert electorate to belief in public
ownership etc; Conservative Party under Thatcher to free market

Functions of Political parties

Representation: primary function of parties. Parties must respond to & articulate
views of voters. Thus voter inputs become policy outcomes. Voting and rational choice
model: Political market parallels the economic market. Parties want votes, thus they
must sell themselves to the electorate like businesses sell to consumers ie voters
=consumers.
Elite formation & recruitment: Parties provide states with leaders. Pol office usually
achieved through party position. In parliamentary systems, the leader of the majority
party becomes the prime minister and cabinet filled by senior party members. Parties
are training grounds for skills, knowledge, experience and provide a career path.
Goal formulation: To win power parties draft programmes of government and political
manifestoes, hold conferences and conventions. They initiate policy. ‘Catchall’ parties
have a weak ideological base thus weak policy formulation functions. Many parties
stress image & personality above policy. Policy is revised because of interest group
and civil society pressure as well as changing domestic & international circumstances.
Interest articulation & aggregation: Parties articulate the interests in society. Parties
emerged from interest groups eg UK LP created by TUs to rep workers; CDU of
Germany founded by Catholics. National parties articulate demands of many groups
and thus need to draw demands together & balance competing interests.
Socialisation & mobilization: Parties are agents of political education & socialisation
through internal debate & campaigning. Party values & attitudes become part of wider
political. Culture. The principal function of monopolistic parties is the propagation of
official ideology. Parties become corrupted by gov experience and are thus less
effective in engaging partisan sympathies eg retaining socialist support.
Organisation of government: Modern societies would be ungovernable without
political parties. They provide stability & coherence to gov. They facilitate co-operation
between different branches of gov. Provide a source of opposition & criticism in &
outside gov. Parties scrutinise gov policy (Heywood 2007: 275-280).

Party systems
Dominant party systems: Many parties compete for power in regular free elections;
One party likely to win and hold office for extended period; eg Congress Party of India,
ANC and Lib Dem Party of Japan; Pol competition transferred to dominant party as
factionalism; Advantages: stability and predictability; gov can embark on large long
term programme; Disadvantages: erodes state-party distinction and moves towards
one party state; corruption, arrogance, complacency; weak and ineffective opposition
Two party systems: Many parties compete for power but only two are likely to win
office eg UK, USA; Advantages: stability and strength - no coalitions, carry out
manifesto without compromise; accountable – will be voted out of power if does not
implement manifesto; moderation – two parties fight for centre floating vote.
Political spectrum
Left wing: Liberty, equality, fraternity, rights, progress, reform, internationalism,
socialism, communism, common endeavour, state intervention in eco, social
democracy, welfare state
Right wing: Authority, hierarchy, order, duties, tradition, reaction, nationalism, law and
order, conservatism, fascism, capitalism, free market, no state intervention in economy
Reading
• A Heywood: Politics, chapter 13 (4th ed, chapter 10)
• Lecture notes and handouts