Political Parties origins, transformations and future prospects 2021-2022
1) Party models: hc 2
Party is an institution that seeks to influence a state and is capable of placing through elections. – the
central structure between society and government.
A modern day democracy without parties is unthinkable, they bring order out of chaos to the voters.
What are the party models? :
cadre party
mass party
catch-all party
cartel party
other parties:
mainstream
memberless
personal
movement
neo-mass (strong ideology combined with lot of charisma and strong civil society)
local and non-aligned mvm (pro-referenda/direct democracy; parties are not necessary)
2) Party systems (demand & supply), hc 3&4
party system = the system of interactions resulting from inter-party competition
- competition and interaction between parties make the party system
demand side: society; people & cleavages (bottom-up)
cleavage: deep structural divide that persist through time and generation
it is very much debatable how relevant the cleavages still are.
since 70s cleavages are less important due to: cognitive mobilisation: individuals are less imbedded,
more floating voters.
main changes in 70s: rise of welfare state & new type of middle class, changing working class,
secularization, more university students post material values
material values: security, economy, safety vs. post-material values: self-actualisation
external supply: structure; nature of party competition, electoral system, etc
internal supply: role of PP; organisation and ideology of parties
what kind of voting system?: single member (first past the post) vs. proportional (with open or closed
list) )
how is the party competition? how many and how relevant are parties (coalition or blackmail
potential) ; lvl of polarisation
3) Party ideologies, hc 5&6
Classical liberalism: 19th century, elite/ cadre party - rising bourgeoisie, middle class
fighting for constitutional reforms and (slightly) larger democracy
, ~ individualism, freedom, reason, justice, toleration
↓
When universal suffrage was achieved and the working class grew liberalism faded. Also growth of
mass parties.
↓
post-war liberals: from majority to minority party
~ culture: individual rights and cultural openness, multicultural ~ economic: more right; individual
freedom, less state interference and more market oriented
different types:
- classical: centre-right eco; blurring on culture
- social: more left wing culture; centre-left on eco (D66)
- conservative: centre right culture and eco (VVD)
still very small parties but key role due to shifting between conservative and liberal-democrats
classical conservatism: started as a cadre party with minimal party organisation and limited link to
civil society.
~ tradition, human imperfection, organic society, hierarchy, property
Had religious followers until Christian Democracy emerged.
↓
Became more a catch-all party after the war - paternalistic emphasis which also meant more welfare
state. This was the only way to survive.
↓
neo-conservatism: The welfare state was to blame for the economic changes in the 70s.
The welfare state changes society. Very much against workers unions, state intervention and
nationalisation - Thatcher
~ difference: more market oriented and individualistic; still little state intervention & traditional
values
christian democrats: created when liberals began moving away from the church. wanted clear
separation between state and society.
~ subsidiarity principle, christian form of individual freedom, mediation politics (also meeting with
unions)
↓ decline
changes to the welfare state + internal conflicts due to rise neo-conservatism & populism
solution differs: revival of old christian doctrine/ more communitarian ; splitting in left and right
wing ; radicalising (e.g. migration, national identity)
difference conservatism:
CD: more differences between countries, in search of identity, internal struggles
cons: more stable in terms of ideology, more market oriented, morally conservative
similar: family, hierarchy, community
