Political Parties and Party Systems Flashcards
what are three problems with political parties?
-Ideological resistance of the role of political parties in the world
-Contemporary democracies and their performance is criticised because of the performance of political parties
-Emergence of new democracies in the 3rd wave
what is meant by “Ideological resistance of the role of political parties in the world”?
“We should minimise the role of political parties in politics”
Why did the Founding Fathers oppose establishing political parties?
-they saw them as decisive organisations against the public interests
-they believed that American MPs should serve the general will of the people, not the parties
what is meant by “Contemporary democracies and their performance is criticised because of the performance of political parties”?
elitism, corruption, embezzlement, incompetence, etc.
what is meant by “Emergence of new democracies in the 3rd wave”?
the role of political parties were not strong in new democracies (they look like but don’t function like political parties)
what are the three functions of political parties?
- Parties in the electorate
- Parties as organisations
- Parties in government
what is meant by “parties in the electorate” as a function?
mobilisation, representation, and education of citizens (about politics)
what is meant by “parties as organisations” as a function?
recruitment and training of political elites, articulation and aggregation of political interests
what is meant by “parties in government” as a function?
organisation and coordination of parliament and government
should parties have monopolies?
no, parties should not have monopolies, as “partocracy” rarerly works well
what are the important questions that need to be asked about the features of party organisations?
Where was the party formed?
How is the party organised?
Who are the party members?
Who pays for the party activities?
what are the different types of parties?
- Cadre Parties
- Mass parties
- Catch-All parties
- Cartel parties
- Business-firm & Entrepreneurial Parties
what are Cadre Parties?
-parliamentary origin
-small organisation
-members are elites
-personal donations
what is one example of a Cadre Party?
The Whigs (UK)
what are Mass Parties?
-extra-parliamentary origin
-large intensive organisation
-homogeneous membership
-membership fees
what is one example of a Mass Party?
Labour Party (UK)
what are Catch-All Parties?
-evolution of existing parties
-large professional organisation
-heterogeneous membership
-private/corporate donations
what is one example of a Catch-All Party?
CDU (Germany)
what are Cartel Parties?
-evolution of existing parties
-professional organisation
-small membership
-state subsidies
what is one example of a Cartel Party?
PSOE (Spain)
what are Business-firm & Entrepreneurial Parties?
-extra-parliamentary or parliamentary origin
-minimal organisation
-minimal membership
-corporate money & state subsidies
what is one example of a Business-firm & Entrepreneurial Party?
Forza Italia (Italy)
until the 1960s, which party type was the most popular?
Mass Parties
what are the different types of party systems?
- Two party systems
- Multi-party systems
- Party systems with dominant parties
what are the different sub-types of Multi-party systems?
- Multi-party systems with alternating coalitions
- Multi-party systems with shifting coalitions
- Polarised Multi-party systems
what are some characteristics of Two-party systems?
-two major parties
-single party governments
-%100 alternation in government (one party fully replaces another)
-elections are decisive
what are some example countries with a Two-party system?
United States, United Kingdom
What are some characteristics of Multi-party systems?
-multiple major parties
-coalition governments
-lack of full alternation in government
what are Multi-party systems with alternating coalitions ?
-more than two major parties
-%100 alternation in government (one government fully replaces another)
-elections are decisive
what are some example countries with a Multi-party system with alternating coalitions?
France, Sweden, Germany
what are Multi-party systems with shifting coalitions?
-more than two major parties
-partial alternation in government
-elections are not decisive
what are some example countries with a Multi-party system with shifting coalitions?
Netherlands, Belgium
what are Polarised Multi-party systems?
-more than two major parties
-no alternation in government
-elections do not matter
what are some example countries with a Polarised Multi-party system?
Italy until 1993, Weimar Republic
what are party systems with dominant parties?
-one party controls parliament/government
-no alternations in government
-elections are not decisive
what are some example countries with a party system with dominant parties?
South Africa, Botswana
why do these different party systems emerge? what are their two main origins?
- how democracy first emerged in that country
- how many cleavages a country has
why do party systems evolve into different types?
- political system collapses (Italy 1993)
- electoral system changes (France 1958)
- new political alliances form
