These notes delve into electoral systems, contrasting Proportional Representation (PR) and Majoritarian systems, each with its benefits and drawbacks. It traces the evolution of political parties through various phases: elite parties, mass parties, catch-all parties, cartel parties, and media parti...
Week 10: Pressure Groups and Parties
Key Questions:
1. What are political
parties?
2. Do we need political
parties?
3. Are parties and
pressure groups
good for
democracy?
Pressure groups = groups of ppl with shared interests; influence public policy -> distinct from
political parties
Classical distinctions in PG: sectional and promotional
Further classifications: insider and outsider
Reality is nuanced – not all equal
Democratic benefits:
1. Ways of expressing societal view
2. Outlet for discontent
3. Provide essential skills, knowledge, and data
4. Sometimes role in policy implementation
Democratic negatives:
1. Privileged access excludes others
2. Risk of ‘policy capture’
3. Influential PG in strategic position to undermine policy
4. Representative if not elected? Whose interests are served?
Political Parties
Fundamental to the functioning of democracy:
1. Representation of interests (Labour)
2. Lead and shape national political debates and direction
3. Political engagement channel
4. Recruitment for public office
5. Scrutinise public policy
Parties in non-democratic states:
Fusion of party and state
, Propaganda
Controls public appointments
Classifying Party Systems
1. One party (China, USSR, NK)
2. One party dominant (Japan: Lib Dem)
3. Two-party (UK, US, Jamaica)
4. Multi-party (
Reality is nuanced – UK has many parties and systems of it. Votes do not equal seats
“Effective number of parties” (ENP) – Laakso 1979
Shows discrepancies between number of votes and seats gained
Effective number of parties at:
Electoral level Local level
France 5.3 2.8
India 6.8 3.5
UK 3.5 2.5
Electoral systems:
1. Proportional Electoral Systems (PR) – broader multi party
Benefits
o Legitimacy
o Greater choice
o Political engagement
Drawbacks
o Less accountability
o Excess power to small parties
o Instability
2. Majoritarian – two-party systems
Benefits
o Strong government
o Accountability
o Stability
Drawbacks
o Overbearing unresponsive governments
o Lacks legitimacy and choice
o Policy swings
Evolution of political parties
Phase 1: caucus/elite parties (pre-democracy in c.19 th)
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