Duverger Flashcards
Origins of Parties
What is the role of political parties, according to Duverger?
To achieve power and exercise it.
How do parties arise?
First, parliamentary groups are created, then electoral committees at the local level, then a permanent connection between the two is established.
How does modern democracy differ from historic conceptions of democracy regarding representation?
Modern democracy sees representation as a factor of scale - there is no longer direct, personal participation, and so representatives are needed.
What are the main two purposes that political parties serve?
They are meant to contest & win elections and organize government.
What are electoral commitees?
Electoral committees are the local level infrastructure that parliamentary groups need for their election.
What did Duverger say about ‘mother cells’ in terms of stimulating party creation?
Once ‘mother cells’ (parliamentary groups & electoral committees) are brought into existence, parties must arise to contain them.
What is important to know about parties with extra-parliamentary origins?
Parties with extra-parliamentary origins are more centralized and top-down. They may have a more rigid membership, and as they have an existence that precedes the party, they exert more control over the party’s autonomy. They are more modern and arise in response to suffrage, having to do with material interests and particularly the expressive function of parties.
What is important to know about parties with parliamentary origins?
In contrast, parties with parliamentary origins are bottom-up and do not have a defined center. They rely on electoral committees and provide direction to their members without having a distinct centre like the extra-parliamentary parties do.
