Political Parties: Functions and Features

Question 1

What is a political party?

Answer 1

“An institution that (a) seeks influence in a state, often by
attempting to occupy positions in government, and (b)
usually consists of more than a single interest in society
and to some degree attempts to ‘aggregate interests’.”

Question 2

Functions of parties

Answer 2

Organisation of government
• Interest aggregation & articulation
• Elite recruitment & socialisation
• Foster political participation

Question 3

Organise government

Answer 3

Function
• Effective & accountable govt
– parties are ‘responsible’
• Implement policies
• Westminster Model
– single party majority
government
– mandate
– collective responsibility
– executive dominance
– party discipline
Issues & challenges
• Limits to autonomy
– globalisation, economic cycle
• Policy failures; Brexit
• Erosion of Westminster Model
– decline of two-party system
– coalition & minority
government
– ‘presidentialisation’ of PM
– parliamentary rebellions

Question 4

Interest aggregation & articulation

Answer 4

Function
• Link between state & civil
society
• Aggregate & articulate interests
of various groups
• Represent views of party
members & voters in political
system
Issues & challenges
• Erosion of
traditional cleavages
• Alternative sources of interest
aggregation & articulation
• Views & interests of some
groups are under-represented
– limited descriptive
representation
– rise of populist parties

Question 5

Political participation

Answer 5

Function
• Foster political participation
– party membership
– voting
• Educate voters about politics
• Provide choice for voters
– simplify choices
– party brands & identities
Issues & challenges
• End of ‘mass party’
– decline of membership &
election turnout
• Media focus on campaigns &
personality; social media
• Ideological convergence
• Partisan dealignment
• Decline of trust in parties