Chapter 9

Political Parties and Electoral Systems 

 

Comparative Politics: Structures and Choices 2eComparative Politics: Structures and Choices 2e

By Lowell BarringtonBy Lowell Barrington

Learning Objectives

Describe how political parties differ from interest groups.

Differentiate among the types of party systems. Characterize the alternative electoral

arrangements used in democratic elections, and explain the relationship between electoral systems and party systems.

Describe the party systems and key electoral outcomes in the Topic in Countries and Spotlight on countries.

Political Parties and Party Systems The Value of Political Parties Party Identification Party Systems

One-party systems One-party dominant systems Two-party systems Two-and-a-half party systems Multiparty systems

Political Parties and Party Systems Advantages of a Large Number of

Political Parties Better representation of the masses Better representation of minority interests

Disadvantages of a Large Number of Major Political Parties Political instability due to fragile coalitions Undue influence of small and extreme parties Difficulty in holding political parties

accountable

Elections and Electoral Systems Types of Electoral Systems

Proportional representation (PR) Open list proportional representation (open list PR)

First past the post (FPTP) Single-member districts versus multi-member districts Hybrid systems

Elections and Electoral Systems

Advantages of PR Electoral Systems Minority interests are represented Women are more likely to be elected to office Emphasis on ideas over personalities

Disadvantages of PR Electoral Systems Too many small parties with disproportionate

importance PR facilitates extremist parties

Think and Discuss

Does a PR systemDoes a PR system’’s advantages, s advantages, such as doing a better job of representing the interests of minority groups, outweigh its disadvantages, outweigh its disadvantages, such as potentially giving small parties the such as potentially giving small parties the ability to hijack the process of creating and ability to hijack the process of creating and maintaining a ruling coalition? Why?maintaining a ruling coalition? Why?

Topic in Countries The United Kingdom

Generally considered a two-and-a-half party system Labour Party has controlled the government since

1997; the main opposition party is the Conservative Party (“Tories”); the third largest party is the Liberal Democratic Party

FPTP for House of Commons elections; tends to produce a majority party (which then controls the prime minister position)

IN THEORY AND PRACTICEDuverger’s Law and British Elections Maurice Duverger believed that electoral

systems have two basic consequences: psychological and mechanical

Believed FPTP systems encourage two-party systems

Electoral results in the United Kingdom cast doubt on Duverger’s law

Think and Discuss

Does the existence of regionally strong third parties in the United Kingdom have implications for the United States?

Could American third parties be successful if they adopted a regional strategy rather than trying to run as national parties?

Topic in Countries Germany

Multiparty system with two main parties: Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD)

Electoral system for the Bundestag combines PR and FPTP; PR seats distributed to create overall totals as if a pure PR system

In Theory and Practice Realignment Theory and Germany

Realignment Theory Developed by scholars of American politics Claims “critical elections” remake a country’s

political landscape

Germany and Realignment Theory Some see Germany as experiencing a realignment

following 2005 elections The 2005 Bundestag election produced no clear

winner; result was a CDU/SPD grand coalition Aftermath included a new party, the Left Party

Topic in Countries

India Multiparty system (six national parties); Congress

Party (INC) dominated for much of early independence period and heads the ruling coalition at present; BJP is INC’s main rival

SMD/FPTP system for Lok Sabha; majorities are hard to come by, so coalitions between national and regional parties are common

Topic in Countries

Mexico The Institutional Revolution Party (PRI) dominated

for much of the 20th century; multiparty system today with the National Action Party (PAN) controlling the presidency but the PRI regaining strength

The Congress is elected through a combination of PR and FPTP (presidential winner comes from a FPTP national vote); Senate elections include a “second past the post” (SPTP) rule

In Theory and Practice Party Organization Theory and Mexico Party Organization Theory

Associated with Joseph Schlesinger Highlights the collective action problem of political parties;

why should individuals work for the party? Party “entrepreneurs” are willing to work hard because they

may gain personally through winning political office

Mexico’s Party of Democratic Revolution (PRD) PRD founded by the son of a former PRI leader He was a party entrepreneur, but formed the PRD as much

or more because of policy differences with the PRI as he did because of a desire to hold office

Topic in Countries

Brazil Very large number of parties gain seats in the

legislature; four are the most important, including the Worker’s Party (PT), the party of President Lula

Lower house chosen by PR (but senators by FPTP and president by majority vote); lower house uses “open list” PR

Topic in Countries

Nigeria Emerging one-party dominant system (PDP

dominates the executive and legislature) Senate and House of Representatives elections are

SMD/FPTP; PDP has dominated elections since democracy was restored in 1999

Topic in Countries

Russia Weak party system after collapse of USSR; turned

into one-party dominant system under Putin Used to be a hybrid system; President Putin

pushed to change it to PR only; 2007 legislative elections and 2008 presidential elections sparked claims of irregularities

Topic in Countries

China Classic one-party system; CCP continues to

dominate Chinese politics No real national elections; but, local elections have

some genuine competition; candidates in village elections not always those preferred by the CCP

Some believe these local elections are an experiment in democracy–like the special economic zones that were an experiment with capitalism before it spread across the country

Topic in Countries

Iran A few main political parties after 1979 Revolution;

parties later replaced by loose electoral coalitions; today, a “no party system”

Guardian Council can block candidates from running for office; in Majles elections, some districts are single-member while others are multi-member

Think and Discuss

The previous chapter discussed non-electoral mechanisms for linking elites and masses. This chapter focuses on political parties and elections. Which of these sets of mechanisms are more important for understanding mass participation and how masses are linked to elites? Why?