Political Parties: Definition, Criteria, Rationale

Date

Political Parties, Definition, Criteria and RationaleProf. EDMUND S. TAYAOUniversity of Santo Tomas, Department of Political ScienceLocal Government Development Foundation

Saturday, September 14, 13

Key Concepts


Key Concepts

Institutionalism- focus on formal institutions of government


Key Concepts


New Institutionalism-sociological view of institutions (impact on society)


Key Concepts



Political Hardware-Framework/Structural Design


Key Concepts



Political Software-Programs/Policies-subjective relationships between leaders and followers



Key ConceptsHard Power

(Coercion, Penalties)






Key ConceptsHard Power

(Coercion, Penalties)

Soft Power(Incentives,

Enticements)






Understanding thePolitical System

Vertical Dynamics- Central, Regional, Local Relations (Unitary or Federal System of Government)

Horizontal Dynamics- Executive Legislative System (Presidential or Parliamentary Form of Government)

System of Representation- Political Party System (Multi-Party System)


Inherently plural and divided society



✤ 80 Effective Languages all over the country;




✤ Social and Economic Stratification;





✤ Religious Diversity





✤ Religious Diversity

as a political party therefore, it must be able to have a firm grasp of the what the country is, in

order to shape what policies, programs and action to take


democracy requires real political parties


✤ No such thing as “Direct Democracy”;




✤ Politics is about policy thus requiring substance (programmatic);





✤ Need for leadership and arena of participation for the masses;





✤ Need for leadership and arena of participation for the masses;

✤ Superiority of Professional Leaders in Respect to Culture (Behavior), the formal and real incompetence of the mass.



real political parties



✤ Programmatic (different from ideological)




✤ Internal/Organizational Democratic Dynamics





✤ Grassroots-Based and International Linkages





✤ Grassroots-Based and International Linkages

✤ Exists and Operates even in-between elections


real political parties are democratic



✤ Same “comrades” too long in leadership regard themselves as “God-given leaders” (Robert Michel 1962);




✤ Fundamental Difference of the “dignified” and the “efficient” (Walter Bagehot 1867); and,




✤ Fundamental Difference of the “dignified” and the “efficient” (Walter Bagehot 1867); and,

✤ Comprehensive (7) Function of Political Parties in Society (Gunther and Diamond 2001)


seven functions of parties



✤ Candidate Nomination;



✤ Candidate Nomination;✤ Electoral Mobilization;



✤ Candidate Nomination;✤ Electoral Mobilization;✤ Issue Restructuring;



✤ Candidate Nomination;✤ Electoral Mobilization;✤ Issue Restructuring;✤ Represent various social

groups;




groups;✤ Interest aggregation;




groups;✤ Interest aggregation;✤ Forming and sustaining

governments; and,




groups;✤ Interest aggregation;✤ Forming and sustaining

governments; and, ✤ Social Integration


Organizing the Party

✤ Identity- Who we are?

✤ Inclusive not Exclusive- Identity need not be exclusive (note that democracy is about numbers)

✤ Ideology as Basic Principle not Limiting Framework- Result is Issue-Based

✤ Democratic, Participatory, Transparent and Accountable Organizational Set-up and Dynamics (Strict adherence to Party Laws and Principles)

✤ Because it is Inclusive, Operations are not dominated by a person or small group and therefore the party operates on its own funds.


We start with ourselves, with our political party, then our society to have a country we deserve



[email protected]; (twitter) @edtayao; www.logodef.org


mailto:[email protected]


http://www.logodef.org



[email protected]; (twitter) @edtayao; www.logodef.orgsee “why we need career politicians” and







[email protected]; (twitter) @edtayao; www.logodef.orgsee “why we need career politicians” and

“we end up electing the wrong people” at rappler.com






Political Parties: Definition, Criteria, Rationale

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