Parties

Basic course 2: What types of parties exist?

The classification of types of parties can never encompass all those that exist in reality. Classification simply aims to highlight certain features from a great many to make identification of characteristic similarities and differences among the parties easier. These can be classified according to a wide range of standards. We have listed the most important below."

[Uwe Backes/Eckhard Jesse; taken from: Informationen zur politischen Bildung 207, Parteiendemokratie, Bonn BpB 1996]

Criteria

Party types

According to party	Voter-based party	Membership-based party
According to the political catchment criteria	People's party	Interest party
According to their attitude toward the political system	Conformist party	Subversive party
According to party function in the political system	Ruling party	Opposition party

The most common distinctions are made according to a party's socio-political aims. Classification according to the ideological orientation of parties results in the following:

Nationalist parties

Conservative parties

Liberal parties

Social democratic parties

Communist parties

You will find a short definition of the party types by clicking on any of the party types above.

Further texts:

The existence of a party-political system made up of at least two parties competing for votes from the electorate to gain power for a limited time in office forms the foundation and conditions for the party classifications given above. In other words: The party types mentioned above are based on a democratic system of government. Democratic political systems are described in more detail on this education server as part of the Main Subject Group of Democracy. Democratic systems are different form socialist (one-party) systems, which define parties in an entirely different way. The main characteristics of socialist political parties are explained on a featured page:

...to the text on socialist parties

If we take a look at the way in which parties have developed in Europe since the 18th century, a representative dominant type of party can be identified for each period of development. A special page has been developed which provides a tabular overview of the classifications in an historic perspective:

...to the text providing an overview of party development in Europe

The so-called people's parties represent a particularly important type of party group. Some regard the term "people's party" as being a contradiction in terms since no party can ever represent the entire populace, while others see this kind of party as providing an important signal that the modern party-political democracy is working and that the polarization of society has been overcome.

...to the text about people's parties

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Types of parties:

Definition according to the degree of party organization:

Voter-based party: Most of the first political parties had very few members. Respected citizens came together to form loose associations and their work was often done on a voluntary basis. This type of party is today called a voter-based party. A voter-based party's membership is proportionately very low in comparison to the electorate. Allegiance to this type of party is usually weak.

Membership-based party: In contrast to the voter-based parties which were often born out of other parliamentary parties, membership-based or worker's parties were quick to develop a well-founded and well-organized party apparatus and had a relatively large membership (membership-based party). Membership-based parties that have become established and are a part of contemporary politics will demonstrate a considerable degree of organization. Consequently, a large proportion of party expenditure is dependent on membership fees.

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Definition according to socio-political aims:

	Nationalist parties: Disapproving of the rules governing a democratic system, they preach nationalistic values peppered with racism and blurred ideals about an ideal tradition. The world's problems are viewed as lying in liberal and communist values.
	Conservative parties: They aspire to retain or return to traditional values. They are usually relative skeptical about change and transformation but also emphasize that traditional principles cannot be upheld over the long-term without moderate reforms.
	Liberal parties: These parties cite rights to liberty and individualism and emphasize the steadfastness of the constitutional state. They reject socialization (nationalization) of production means.
	Social democratic parties: The aim of these parties is to introduce political policies targeted at achieving more social equality; they are more committed to helping economically disadvantaged sections of society.
	Communist parties: These parties are determined to defend their governing role as the "avant-garde" of social progress regardless of (possibly contrasting) opinions; they also propagate dictatorship of the proletariat.

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Definition according to the political catchment criteria:

People's parties: People's parties attempt to cater for the interests of all sections of society, they try to integrate as many citizens as possible rather than alienating certain sections of society. Nevertheless, people's parties do focus on certain issues according to their membership-base and the electoral structure. Ideological ideals play a subordinate role in the political programs of people's parties [...to the featured text on people's parties].

Interest parties: These parties represent the interests of a special group (for example social, confessional, regional) and do not claim to represent equally all sections of society. Party policy is usually bent strongly in one direction. Class-based parties are one example of this type of party.

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Definition according to their attitude toward the political system:

	Conformist parties: These parties support the political system in which they are active. They are keen to stabilize or improve through reforms the prevailing political system.
	Subversive parties: These parties do not accept the principles of the prevailing political system. Once in power, they no longer stick to the rules governing the system. Other parties are banned (as was done by the NSDAP in Germany in 1933) or degraded to mere satellites (as practiced by the SED in former East Germany).

[Taken from: Uwe Backes/Eckhard Jesse; Informationen zur politischen Bildung 207, Parteiendemokratie, Bonn BpB 1996]

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Definition according to their function in the political system:

	Ruling party: The ruling party is the party that won the last general election; its members form the government until the next election. More than one ruling party can exist in a political systems based on coalition government.
	Opposition party: The opposition party was unsuccessful in winning the last election and forms the opposition in parliament. Of course, there can be several opposition parties and their task is to persuade voters that they are fit to form the next government by offering alternatives to current government policies.

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Subjects: Human Rights I Democracy  I Parties I Examples I Europe I Globalisation I United Nations I Sustainability

Methods:    Teaching Politics    II    Peace Education    II    Methods

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