Oligarchy

Parties

Criticism of parties (II)

Parties are often criticized for having moved too far away from the grassroots and the electorate. The gap between professional politicians at the top of parties and the "man in the street" has become too wide to make a lively exchange of views possible. This problem of distance also applies to party members. According to critics, members also feel powerless in the face of the party leaders. This problem forms the subject of discussion for the following text based on the term oligarchy.

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The term "party disaffection" bundles differing criticisms of political parties into a memorable term. It is usually alleged that parties only have themselves to blame for this disaffection. But could there be other reasons for this? Two texts in a special section address this very point [...to the text on "reasons for party disaffection"]

Oligarchic tendencies

In his classic research paper into parties, Robert Michels provided evidence for the "iron law of oligarchy" (rule of the few). Michels assumes that every organization unavoidably produces a ruling class, but is unable to control it effectively over the long-term. Certainly, the necessity for executive officials, the superior knowledge of the party leadership and the rampant specialization of politics bring about a certain degree of independence for the party apparatus. Nevertheless, whether or not an internal party process for forming a political will, which is instigated from the top and works its way down, actually exists and, if so, to what extent, remains to be established. Clusters of people with political office and (associated with this) a concentration of power represents a serious problem for all large parties (...). An improvement in the way in which opinion is exchanged within parties for the purpose of reducing hardened party structures is just as necessary as increased mobilization of party members.

Oligarchic tendencies in large democratic parties are, to a certain degree, also caused by a lack of participation on the part of many citizens. Only a small minority of those voting and sympathizing with a party are prepared to become members. (...).

This being said, it would be wrong to presume that political parties were not using this increasing criticism and a general level of disaffection among the population, which is reflected in a loss of loyal voters, falling memberships and a clear lack of enthusiasm among younger voters, as a motive to carry out reforms to the way in which parties are organized. The large "people's parties" have, indeed, been taking actions in this area (...). Reforms are being discussed such as the introduction of rules to regulate the amount time individuals can spend in office and to prevent accumulations of office; the expansion of schemes to encourage party sympathizers to participate without them having to become formal members; and more consideration for women and young people at party conferences and in committees.

[Uwe Backes/Eckhard Jesse, taken from: Informationen zur politischen Bildung 207, Parteiendemokratie, Bonn BpB 1997]

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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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