L7 - Political Parties & Systems

Question 1

What are some issues with political parties?

Answer 1

● Contested as an idea.
● Critiqued for their performance.
● Experimented on, particularly in Africa and Latin America

Political parties seen as “factions” - negative connotations. This is because factions can be seen as divisive and focused on advancing their own interests rather than those of the broader community.

Question 2

What are the functions political Parties

Answer 2

1. In the electorate:
   ● Mobilization and integration of voters
   ● Representation of voters
   ● Education of citizens on ideas of public policy and particular issues
2. As organisations:
   ● Recruitment and training of political leaders.
   ● Articulation and aggregation of political interests; advisory bodies/analytical departments that devise policies for their or their voters’ needs.
3. In government:
   ● Organisation and coordination of the parliament and government.

• each parliament has a group which organizes the MPs provide ministers and coordinate the work of those

Question 3

What are Features of Party Organizations?

Answer 3

Features of party organisations:
1. Origins.
2. Character.
3. Nature of party membership.
4. Primary resource base.

Question 4

What are Party Types ?

Answer 4

• Cadre Parties
• Mass Parties
• Catch-all Parties
• Cartel Parties
• Business-Firm and Entrepreneurial Parties

Question 5

What are principal characteristics of cadre parties ?

Answer 5

1. Parliamentary origin.
2. Small (parliamentary) organisation.
3. Elites are members.
4. Personal donations.

➔ E.g. the Whigs-Liberal Party (UK, 19th century).

Question 6

What are principal characteristics of Mass Parties

Answer 6

1. Extra- parliamentary origin
2. Large and intensive organization
3. Mass homogenous membership
4. Fees from members and ancillary
   organizations

➔ E.g. Labour Party (UK, 1920s) &PASOK (Greece, 1970s)

Question 7

What are principal characteristics of Catch-all Parties?

Answer 7

1. Evolution of existing parties
2. Large professionalized organization
3. Heterogenous membership
4. Private and corporate donations

➔ E.g. CUD (Germany,1960s) & Liberal Party of Canada (1960s).

Question 8

What are principal characteristics of Cartel Parties?

Answer 8

1. Evolution of existing parties.
2. Professionally-run organisation/business.
3. Small membership.
4. State subsidies; do not require a large membership for support.
   ➔ E.g. PSOE (Spain) & OVP (Austria) & PvdA (Netherlands).

➔ The most present type of political parties today

Question 9

What are principal characteristics of Business-Firm and Entrepreneurial Parties?

Answer 9

1. (Extra-) parliamentary origin.
2. Minimal formal organisation.
3. Minimal membership.
4. Corporate money (and state subsidies).
   ➔ E.g. Forza Italia (Italy), Ano (CzechRepublic).

Question 10

What are features of Party Systems?

Answer 10

● Origins; based on one of the political cleavages.

● Evolution; party systems often change due to: A collapse of the political system
(e.g. the 1992 collapse of the Italian system due to corruption)

● A fundamental change in electoral law
(e.g. France in the 1960s changing to a majoritarian electoral system)

● The emergence of new political alignments.

Question 11

What are the 2 types of Party System?

Answer 11

1. Two-party System
2. Multi-party systems (3 types)

Question 12

What are the characteristics of a Two-Party System ?

Answer 12

• Two RELEVANT major parties
• Single-party government: the government composed by one
• Alternation in office (one party replacing another)
• Elections are decisive
  - Centripetal competition: competition that resoles around the center - two competing parties best way is to find for the voters in the middle
• Assures the stability of governments

e.g. USA, UK, Ghana

Question 13

What are the characteristics of a Multi-party systems

Answer 13

• More than Two major RELEVANT parties
• Coalition government (more than one in government)
• Lack of alternation (some parties get out other continue)
• Centrifugal competition (fight for voters on the end of extremes)
• Instability (governments fall and go)
• 3 types of Multi-Party Systems

Question 14

Explain Type 1. Multi-Party with Alternating Coalitions

Answer 14

1. More than two major parties (coalition government).
2. 100% alternation in government (behave almost like a
   two-party system).
3. Elections are decisive (centrifugal competition).
4. Insatiable.

➔ E.g.France, Sweden.

Question 15

Explain Type 2. Multi-Party with Shifting Coalitions

Answer 15

1. More than two major parties (coalition government).
2. Partial alternation in government.
3. Elections are NOT decisive (centrifugal competition).
4. Insatiable.

➔ E.g. the NL, Belgium.

Question 16

Explain Type 3. Polarized Multi-Party

Answer 16

1. More than two major parties
2. NO alternation in government; strong extremes, with
   one party governing to keep them out.
3. Elections are unimportant.

➔ E.g.Italy (until1993) ,Weimar Germany.

Question 17

What are the characteristics of Party Systems with Dominant Parties?

Answer 17

1. One party controls the parliament/government.
2. NO alternation in government.
3. Elections are NOT decisive.

➔ E.g.South Africa, Botswana.