Chapter 12: Political Parties by Richard S. Katz Caramani (ed.) Comparative Politics Section IV:...

Chapter 12:

Political Partiesby Richard S. Katz

Caramani (ed.) Comparative Politics

Section IV: Actors and processes

Chapter 12: Political parties

Introduction (1/1)

Introduction

Definition of parties

Origins of parties

The functions of parties

Models of party organization

Parties and the stabilization of democracy

Conclusion

Political parties are among the central actors in politics.

Parties are ubiquitous in modern political systems. Governments of most

countries are effectively in the hands of party-leaders.

It is unlikely that social movements or governance networks will replace

parties.


Definition of parties (1/1)

Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Since parties are very different in their motivation, organization, behaviour

and relevance, it is hardly possible to find an all encompassing definition of

parties.

Nevertheless, the definition of party is significant, both scientifically and

normatively.

Most examples of party-definitions combine the following elements:- Objective of parties- Methods of parties- Their role in political competition- Autonomous citizens

The term “party” is better considered as a category than as an ideal type.


Origins of parties (1/2)

Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Not the existence of factions, but their acceptance was the origin of

parties (disagreement instead of disloyalty; organization instead of

conspiracy).

Earlier parties were parties of intraparliamentary origin:•Success in gaining control over the executive•Rise of parliamentary government

Parties of extra-parliamentary origin:•Founded to organize those excluded from political participation•Succeeded in inducing the established parties to broaden suffrage


Origins of parties (2/2)

Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Parties of internal and external origin differ with respect to their:-Timing-Organization-Social basis

In the late 20th century a new type of externally originating party appeared:•Hierarchical party organization, depending on material resources

of its leader•Conservative or pro-business Example: Berlusconi’s Forza Italia


The functions of parties (1/2)

Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Political parties perform a number of functions that are central to the

operation of modern states:

(1) Coordination:•With government•With society•Between government and society

(2) Contesting elections:• Providing candidates• Fund raising for candidates• Formulating policy positions


The functions of parties (2/2)

Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

(3) Recruitment and selection:•Integrating new citizens (e.g. party youth movements)

(4) Representation:•Social groupings•Ideological positions


Models of party organization (1/9)

Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Types of parties:

(1) Cadre or elite parties:• The earliest of “modern” parties (parliamentary origin)• No need for a party on the ground due to highly restricted

suffrage• Mobilizing of personal clientele



Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Types of parties (continued)

(2) Mass parties:• 2nd half of 19th century (extra-parliamentary origin)• Representing a particular group or social class• Often built on pre-existing organizations (e.g. trade-unions)• Strategy of “encapsulation by providing a range of ancillary

organizations”• Extensive organization, dominated by the party’s elite (“iron law

of oligarchy”)



Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion


(3) Catch-all parties:

Developed from transformation of mass parties, characterized by:• Increasing role of professionals (compared to members)• Weaker ideological orientation• Strategy to appeal across group boundaries• Loosening connection between party and “its” interest

organization



Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion


- Cartel parties:

Pressure on the catch-all model led to four major changes compared

to catch-all parties:• Agencies of the state rather than of society• Disempowering party activists• Further privileging professional expertise• Parties form a cartel to protect themselves from electoral risk and

to get subventions from the state



Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion


(5) Anti-cartel parties:• Frustration with mainstream parties• Organized around an idea rather than a social grouping• left-libertarian-, new right- or movement parties

(6) Business-firm parties:• Forza Italia as model for parties in the future?

(7) Parties in the US:• Share many features of cadre parties• But candidate selection is run by state regulated primary elections



Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Membership:

All modern parties claim to have membership organizations.

Individual or affiliated membership (trade-unions).

Measures of membership:• Number of members• Ratio of party membership to size of electorate• Organizational density (ratio of members to voters)

Regardless of how party membership is measured, it has

been declining.



Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Regulation:

Increasing number of countries enacts special “party laws” due to:• The centrality of parties to democracy• The power of parties• Administrative necessities

A party becomes official through registration. Registration often brings a

bundle of privileges:• Contributions are deductible from taxes• Ballot access• Public subventions



Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Finance:

Regulation of spending• Bans on particular forms of spending (e.g. vote buying)• Limitation of total spending• Disclosure of spending

Regulations of fundraising• Limits on individual contributions• Prohibition of financing from some sources (e.g. foreigners,

corporations, trade-unions, etc.)



Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Finance (continued)

Public subventions:

A growing number of countries provide support for parties through:-Tax system (e.g. deductible contributions)-Provisions of goods and services (e.g. free air time)-Direct financial support (often based on voting shares)

Public support for parties is not uncontested:-Do financial contributions really help parties to perform their

functions better? -Promoting equality and fairness?


Parties and the stabilization

of democracy (1/1)

Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Parties play an important role in stabilizing democracy by integrating new

citizens (immigration, age, suffrage extension) into the existing political

system.

But their stabilizing effect is not observable everywhere (e.g. formerly

communist countries, Islamic world).

Whether the electoral success of anti-democratic parties helps to moderate

them, or undermines democracy is an open question.

Are internally oligarchic parties an asset for state-level democracy?

(dilemma for democracy promoting agencies)


Conclusion (1/1)

Introduction


Origins of parties




Conclusion

Political parties remain central to democratic government in the 21st

century.

Nevertheless, parties face a number of challenges:• Increasing complexity of problems makes them less tractable• Declining party membership• More dependent from contributions of special interest groups and

from public subventions• Increasing role of competing interest organizations

Chapter 12: Political Parties by Richard S. Katz Caramani (ed.) Comparative Politics Section IV:...

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