4.2.4. Popular participation in political parties

It is often said that political parties are facing a crisis because they are very unpopular and the citizens are indifferent to political parties. The available evidence shows that this belief is only partly true for India. The evidence, based on a series of large sample surveys conducted over several decades, shows that:

• Political parties do not enjoy much trust among the people in South Asia. The proportion of those who say their trust in political parties is ‘not much’ or ‘not at all’ is more than those who have ‘some’ or ‘great’ trust.
• The same is true of most other democracies as well. Political parties are one of the least trusted institutions all over the world.

This chunk discusses the overall perception of political parties in society. Many believe that political parties are facing a crisis due to a lack of popularity and trust among the population. Surveys reveal that in South Asia, including India, many people express low trust in political parties, feeling that they often let down the citizens they represent. Across various democracies worldwide, this distrust is a common sentiment.

Imagine a sports team that has consistently underperformed or made controversial decisions. Fans might still attend games but often express frustration over the team's management. Similarly, citizens participate in democracy, yet harbor doubts about their political parties' commitment to represent their interests.

Yet the level of participation in the activities of political parties was fairly high. The proportion of those who said they were members of some political party was higher in India than many advanced countries like Canada, Japan, Spain, and South Korea.

• Over the last three decades, the proportion of those who report to be members of political parties in India has gone up steadily.
• The proportion of those who say they feel ‘close to a political party’ has also gone up in India in this period.

Despite the distrust in political parties, participation levels in party activities remain surprisingly high. Surveys indicate that the number of people identifying as members of political parties is actually greater in India compared to several developed nations. This rise in membership suggests that people are still engaging with parties, perhaps due to their perceived importance in the political system or a desire for change. Moreover, an increasing number of people express feelings of closeness to political parties, indicating that while trust might be low, identification is still strong.

Consider a community organization that is widely known for its flaws but provides vital services to the community. Even if there’s criticism, many people might still join and engage in solidarity, hoping for reform from within. This mirrors how citizens maintain their memberships in political parties despite dissatisfaction.

Democracies that follow a federal system all over the world tend to have two kinds of political parties: parties that are present in only one of the federal units and parties that are present in several or all units of the federation. This is the case in India as well.

This chunk explains how political parties are organized in federal democracies, such as India. There are national parties that operate across multiple states and regional parties that specifically cater to local or state-level issues. This structure allows for a wide representation of interests in a diverse society, ensuring that different voices within the population can be heard in the political arena.

Think of a national restaurant chain that serves a common menu everywhere, alongside local diners that offer unique regional specialties. The national chain ensures consistency, while local diners add variety and cater to local tastes, much like how national and regional parties work together in a federal system to represent different interests.

The proportion of those who report to be members of political parties in India has gone up steadily. The proportion of those who say they feel ‘close to a political party’ has also gone up in India in this period.

This chunk highlights the increasing trend of political party membership and affiliation in India over the years. The data illustrates not only growing membership but also a stronger sense of belonging among members toward their respective political parties. This trend indicates that despite existing criticisms, people see the importance of being part of a political organization to influence change.

When a local club or organization evolves over time, it often attracts more members who identify with its values and activities. As the club's influence grows, even those who were skeptical may decide to join, reflecting how political parties can similarly attract and retain members over time.

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