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| Basic course 5: What are the problems facing party-political democracy?
Despite or perhaps because of the importance attached to parties by modern mass democracies, we should not play down the failings of party democracy if things are to be improved through reform. It is still the case that a lack of understanding on the part of citizens for parties makes the work of parties more difficult. This traditional dislike of parties has different causes (...). Some sections of society still regard legitimate political disputes as nothing but "party squabbling", and the fact that government ministers have to belong to a political party is by no means universally accepted. Some people believe that an "independent specialist" would be better positioned to solve outstanding problems. It should, however, be borne in mind that a strict division between "specialist" on the one side and "political" on the other is difficult to establish and, indeed, to maintain. Many of these political demands, claims and interests are often conflicting and can never be completely solved. It is for this reason that political decisions are necessary. While research into political culture has demonstrated that many traditional forms of anti-party emotion have weakened with time (...). Old prejudices in a new guise have increased especially among the younger generation. Many young people prefer to experience politics for the first time as part of broadly based, loosely structured initiatives at a local and regional level on issues such as the environment, peace, women's rights, the third world and anti-fascism rather than in political parties. Many young people regard "established" political parties as "stiff" and "encrusted", their members as careerists, their internal structures as hardly democratic and their financial behavior as dubious. A great many of these opinions are not based on experience, but simply reflect that which is regarded as intellectual common knowledge in protest and alternative movements. Even if much of this criticism is often generalized, exaggerated and not always accurate, it should not be overlooked that much of it is aimed at the "established" parties and does have its justification. On no account is this criticism always based on a lack of insight into conditions determining the way in which a pluralistic democracy works. (...). Back to top of page]No alternative to party democracy Parties will remain indispensable for free democracies into the future. To this end, their ability to remain competitive and to survive will depend on how flexibly they can react to new situations and expectations. There is no one answer to overcoming the current disaffection with parties. The parties' clientele place differing demands upon them. Despite the great merit of people's parties, the existence of other types of parties contribute to the vitality and efficiency of the party system. It is by no means clear that the current trend towards introducing direct-democratic elements will really have a positive effect in all parties. The argument for representative and against plebiscite democracy at a political-system level (these include the danger of a reduction in flexibility and efficiency, demagogy, decreasing ability to reach compromise, a qualitative worsening of personnel and administrative decisions) will also have an effect within parties. In addition to this, inner-party participation is only one of many problem areas. Indeed, it will also depend on to what degree parties manage to set their own limits and attempt to play a part in all areas of society. Only by setting limits will a situation be prevented in which parties become a part of officialdom. Parties must also implement measures aimed at improving their choice of personnel, by offering opportunities to those joining from other areas of society. The way in which members are forced to work their way up through the ranks ("hard road to the top") and the existence of career brings with it the danger that the political class might become too distant from society and its problems. The political party system has often be declared dead. Nevertheless, evidence would seem to suggest that the party system in modern industrialized societies (...) - despite or indeed because its situation appears to be more open than a few years ago - will not be forced into forfeiting its ability to work and survive despite all its weaknesses. Provided democratic parties maintain their ability to reinvent themselves, they need not fear the future. [Uwe Backes/Eckhard Jesse, taken from: Informationen zur politischen Bildung 207, Parteiendemokratie, Bonn BpB 1997]
What are the main criticisms of parties?
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Subjects: Human
Rights I Democracy I Parties
I Examples I
Europe
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Globalisation
I United Nations
I Sustainability
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