Parties and party systems - Party politics - Functions of parties

6 important questions on Parties and party systems - Party politics - Functions of parties

How is representation carried out?

In an open and competitive system that forces parties to respond to popular preferences.
Representation refers to the capacity of parties to respond to and articulate the views of both the members and the voters. 

Image of voters as well-informed, rational and issue-orientated consumers. This is questionable.

Elite formation and recruitment.

Parties are responsible for providing states with their political leaders.
Parties provide a training ground for politicians.
Criticism: political leaders are drawn from a relatively small pool of talent.

Interest articulation and aggregation

Parties also help to articulate and bundle the various interests found in society.
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How are political parties important agents of political education and socialization?

Through internal debate and discussion, as well as campaigning and electoral competition.

The issues that parties choose to focus on help to set the political agenda, and the values and attitudes that they articulate become part of the larger political culture.

Why has the capacity of parties to mobilize and socialize been brought into doubt?

Because of evidence found in many countries, of partisan dealignment and growing disenchantment with conventional pro-system parties.
(The problem that parties have is that, to some extent, they themselves are socialized (corrupted?) by the experience of government. This makes them less effective in engaging partisan sympathies and attracting emotional attachments).

Why would complex modern societies be ungovernable in the absence of political parties?

1. Parties help with the formation of government in parliamentary systems
2. Parties give governments a degree of stability and coherence.
3. Facilitate cooperation between the two major branches: the assembly and the executive.
4. Parties provide (at least in competitive systems) a vital source of opposition and criticism. This helps to broaden political debate and educate the electorate + helps to thoroughly scrutinize government policy.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

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