Political Parties And The Transition To Democracy
Role of Political Parties in Democratic Societies
Democracy requires the participation of effective political parties. Parties are unique organizations that fulfill a number of interrelated functions central to the democratic process of governance. Basic partyfunctions include:
C Contesting and winning elections, in order to seek a measure of control of government agencies and institutions.
C Aggregating and representing social interests.
C Providing policy alternatives.
C Vetting and training political leaders who will assume a role in governing society.
In most countries, parties are required to fulfill legal obligations for official registration and recognition, including a minimum level of membership, a written constitution and platform, and the election of party leaders. Depending on a variety of factors C such as the type of democratic system, the electoral law, and the historical role of trade unions, religious groups, and ethnic communities C a country may have anywhere from two to a hundred registered parties. In some cases, parties may merge or divide over time and new parties may