Political Parties and Party

Systems

Definition of Political Party

La Palombara, a political party is a
formal organization whose selfconscious, primary purpose is to place
and maintain in public office persons
who will control, alone or in coalition,
the machinery of government.
Epstein, any group, however loosely
organized, seeking to elect
governmental office-holders under a
given label.

Characteristics of Political
Parties
1. Label, e.g., Democrat, Republican,
CDU, SPD, LDP, Labor, Conservative.
2. Organizationacting together to
achieve common goals.
3. Membershipopen to all.
4. Participation through mechanisms of
government, e.g., elections,
legislatures.
5. Key activityselection of candidates
for public office.

Growth of Political Parties

Emerged in 19th Century Europe, with the

development of democracy, extension of
popular suffrage and parliamentary
power.
Theories of emergence of political parties:

1. Institutional theoriesfocus on the evolution

of parliamentary bodies.
2. Historical-crisis theoriesfocus on problems
[independence, modernization] that leaders
encountered.

Functions of Political Parties

1. A link between people and
government
2. Aggregation of interests
3. Political socialization
4. Mobilization of voters
5. Forming a government
6. Viable opposition

Political Party, Interest Group,

Faction
Terminological confusion
1. Political party is different from
interest group because the former
aims at getting elected for public
office.
2. Faction is a part of larger political
entity. Featurespersonalityoriented, lack permanent structure,
operate behind the scene.

Party and Party System

Definition:
It refers to the interactions of parties with
each other and with the overall political
system.
(The way political parties interacts with
one another)

Forms/types of party system

1. Single-party system:
only one party is legally allowed. Found in totalitarian regimes.
One party cannot produce any other system other than
autocratic/dictatorial power.
A state where one party rules would include the remaining
communist states of the world (Cuba, North Korea and
China), and Iraq (where the ruling party is the Baath
Party).
The old Soviet union was a one party state. One of the more
common features of a one-party state is that the position
of the ruling party is guaranteed in a constitution and
all forms of political opposition are banned by law.
The ruling party controls all aspects of life within that
state. The belief that a ruling party is all important to a
state came from Lenin who believed that only one party the Communists - could take the workers to their ultimate
destiny and that the involvement of other parties would
hinder this progress.

2. The Dominant-party system:

only one party continues to win elections,
but other parties are allowed to exist.
A party is quite capable within the
political structure of a state, to become
dominant to such an extent that victory at
elections is considered a formality. The
party in power becomes complacent and
sees that its position in power is
guaranteed.
opposition parties are in total disarray or
very weak.

3. The Two Party-system

This is a state in which just two parties dominate. Other
parties might exist but they have no political importance.
America has the most obvious two-party political system
with the Republicans and Democrats dominating the
political scene. Other states Britain, Canada and New
Zealand.
For the system to work, one of the parties must obtain a
sufficient working majority after an election. A rotation of
power is expected in this system.

Advantages: could provide stability to the

government, effective check and balance,
policies take into account all views.
Relatively simple .
Disadvantages: limits people choice,
dictatorship of cabinets.

4. The Multiparty system

Three or more parties with almost equal strength,
coalition government.This is a system where more
than two parties have some impact in a states
political life.
A multi-party system can lead to a coalition
government as Germany and Italy have
experienced.
Advantages: greater liberty to express views,
no tyranny of one party and tyranny of the
cabinet, e.g Netherlands, Sweden, Norway
Disadvantages: unstable, policy could be
discontinue, government could not keep
power for a long time. E.g Italy, India.

5. The Two-Plus party system

The existence of two larger parties with
one or more relevant smaller parties.
E.g Germany with Christian Democratic
party and social democratic party. But
free democratic party and Green party
Win enough vote to make them
politically significant.

Which one is the best?

Very subjective, it depends on
various factors. The system that
works for one country may not
equally works in other country.
As long as there are at least two
parties , the system is regarded as
competitive party system and could
prevent abuse of power.

Evaluating Parties in
Democracies

Parties are evaluated based on the

degree of its centralization, and the
extent of its participation in government
and policy
1. Centralization: coherence, discipline,
ideological consistency. U.K.,
Germany>U.S.
2. Party participation in the policy making
3. Party participation in Government: clearer
in parliamentary than presidential
systems.

Political Party in Communist

States
Classic Communist system founded by
Lenin and developed by Stalin in USSR.
Feature: interlocking of a single party
with government and the economy.
Party does not rule directly; it
supervises, monitors, and controls the
personnel of the state and economic
structures.
Centrality of Politburo.

Parties in the Muslim World

Theoretically, no prohibition of having
political parties in Islam.
Concept of opposition: not for the sake
of opposing, but for correcting
mistakes, suggesting alternatives and
working together to achieve higher
aims.
Parties should not function simply as an
electoral instrument, but also a social
service organization.

Parties in the Muslim World

1997 survey: of 112 Muslim nations, 35
of them permit only one party to exist,
e.g., Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia.
Many are legally multi-party states, but
de-facto one-party systems because of
the legalized dominance of one party
over the rest.
Most parties exist in a non-competitive
situation.