4.1.9. Parties provide access to government machinery

Political parties provide access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments. For an ordinary citizen, it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer. That is why, they feel close to parties even when they do not fully trust them. Parties have to be responsive to people’s needs and demands. Otherwise, people can reject those parties in the next elections.

Political parties serve as important intermediaries between the citizens and the government. Citizens often find it easier to communicate their needs and problems through local party leaders rather than directly with bureaucrats or government officials, who may be less accessible or approachable. Political parties must listen to and address the concerns of the public; otherwise, they risk losing support in future elections. This means that effective political parties must demonstrate accountability and responsiveness to the electorate's needs.

Imagine a community that is struggling with a lack of recreational spaces. Instead of going through a complicated bureaucracy to request a new park, citizens might approach a local political party representative who can then advocate on their behalf. If the party representative successfully communicates this issue to the government and secures funding for the park, they maintain the trust and support of the community. However, if they neglect this issue and the citizens feel ignored, they may choose not to support that party during the next election.

This list of functions in a sense answers the question asked above: we need political parties because they perform all these functions. But we still need to ask why modern democracies cannot exist without political parties. We can understand the necessity of political parties by imagining a situation without parties. Every candidate in the elections will be independent. So no one will be able to make any promises to the people about any major policy changes. The government may be formed, but its utility will remain ever uncertain.

Political parties are essential for the functioning of a stable democracy. Without them, elections would be chaotic, with individual candidates lacking a cohesive platform or shared goals. This would lead to uncertainty in governance, as elected officials would be disconnected from the principles and priorities that unify party members. Political parties help in organizing voters' preferences, allowing for clearer policy commitments and more coherent government action, which is necessary for addressing societal needs effectively.

Consider a school student council election without any clubs or groups. If every candidate runs independently without any shared platform, it becomes difficult for students to understand who stands for what. For instance, one candidate might want better lunches, another focuses on sports, and another on arts. Without a collected voice, it would be unlikely that any of these issues are effectively addressed by the council, as they lack a united front. In contrast, a student council representing different clubs could create a comprehensive plan based on a broad platform that better serves the entire student body.

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