4. Political Parties
Political parties are vital institutions in democracies, serving to contest elections, form governments, and represent diverse views. This chapter discusses the functions, necessity, and challenges of political parties in India's democratic framework while exploring different party systems. It also highlights the importance of electoral participation and potential reforms needed for improving the internal workings of political parties.
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What we have learnt
- Political parties perform essential functions in democracies, including contesting elections and providing governmental oversight.
- The necessity of political parties stems from their ability to represent diverse interests and form stable governments in a complex society.
- Challenges such as lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, and the influence of money and muscle power hinder the effective functioning of political parties.
Key Concepts
- -- Political Party
- A political party is a group of individuals who come together to contest elections and hold governmental power, promoting shared policies for the societal good.
- -- Partisanship
- Partisanship refers to being strongly committed to a particular political party, often resulting in an inability to consider alternative viewpoints.
- -- Multiparty System
- A political system where multiple parties compete for power, allowing for a variety of interests and representation, as seen in India.
- -- Internal Democracy
- Internal democracy within parties involves having fair processes for decision-making, elections, and member engagement, which are often lacking in many political parties.
- -- Electoral System
- The method by which votes are counted and decisions on representation are made, which can be a contributing factor in determining the number of effective political parties in a democracy.
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