Political Parties: Definition, Criteria, Rationale

Date

Political Parties, Definition, Criteria and RationaleProf. EDMUND S. TAYAOUniversity of Santo Tomas, Department of Political ScienceLocal Government Development Foundation

Saturday, September 14, 13


Key Concepts


Key Concepts


Key Concepts

Institutionalism- focus on formal institutions of government


Key Concepts


New Institutionalism-sociological view of institutions (impact on society)


Key Concepts



Political Hardware-Framework/Structural Design


Key Concepts



Political Software-Programs/Policies-subjective relationships between leaders and followers



Key ConceptsHard Power

(Coercion, Penalties)






Key ConceptsHard Power

(Coercion, Penalties)

Soft Power(Incentives,

Enticements)






Understanding thePolitical System

Vertical Dynamics- Central, Regional, Local Relations (Unitary or Federal System of Government)

Horizontal Dynamics- Executive Legislative System (Presidential or Parliamentary Form of Government)

System of Representation- Political Party System (Multi-Party System)



Inherently plural and divided society



✤ 80 Effective Languages all over the country;




✤ Social and Economic Stratification;





✤ Religious Diversity





✤ Religious Diversity

as a political party therefore, it must be able to have a firm grasp of the what the country is, in

order to shape what policies, programs and action to take



democracy requires real political parties


✤ No such thing as “Direct Democracy”;




✤ Politics is about policy thus requiring substance (programmatic);





✤ Need for leadership and arena of participation for the masses;





✤ Need for leadership and arena of participation for the masses;

✤ Superiority of Professional Leaders in Respect to Culture (Behavior), the formal and real incompetence of the mass.




real political parties



✤ Programmatic (different from ideological)




✤ Internal/Organizational Democratic Dynamics





✤ Grassroots-Based and International Linkages





✤ Grassroots-Based and International Linkages

✤ Exists and Operates even in-between elections



real political parties are democratic



✤ Same “comrades” too long in leadership regard themselves as “God-given leaders” (Robert Michel 1962);




✤ Fundamental Difference of the “dignified” and the “efficient” (Walter Bagehot 1867); and,




✤ Fundamental Difference of the “dignified” and the “efficient” (Walter Bagehot 1867); and,

✤ Comprehensive (7) Function of Political Parties in Society (Gunther and Diamond 2001)



seven functions of parties



✤ Candidate Nomination;



✤ Candidate Nomination;✤ Electoral Mobilization;



✤ Candidate Nomination;✤ Electoral Mobilization;✤ Issue Restructuring;



✤ Candidate Nomination;✤ Electoral Mobilization;✤ Issue Restructuring;✤ Represent various social

groups;




groups;✤ Interest aggregation;




groups;✤ Interest aggregation;✤ Forming and sustaining

governments; and,




groups;✤ Interest aggregation;✤ Forming and sustaining

governments; and, ✤ Social Integration


Organizing the Party

✤ Identity- Who we are?

✤ Inclusive not Exclusive- Identity need not be exclusive (note that democracy is about numbers)

✤ Ideology as Basic Principle not Limiting Framework- Result is Issue-Based

✤ Democratic, Participatory, Transparent and Accountable Organizational Set-up and Dynamics (Strict adherence to Party Laws and Principles)

✤ Because it is Inclusive, Operations are not dominated by a person or small group and therefore the party operates on its own funds.



We start with ourselves, with our political party, then our society to have a country we deserve



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Political Parties: Definition, Criteria, Rationale