Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electoral Institutions and Party Membership

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Political Party Membership in New Democracies

Part of the book series: St Antony's Series ((STANTS))

Abstract

This chapter presents membership data from political parties across 11 central and east European countries. Using data from the European Values Survey and Eurequal, it then examines the relationship between political party membership and three institutions thought to influence membership levels: state funding, regime type and electoral systems. State subsidies and regime type do not appear to influence membership levels; however, higher district magnitudes appear to be correlated with lower party membership levels. In order to explore potential causal links between electoral systems and party membership, a series of sub-hypotheses about the impact of district magnitude on the roles of party members are developed from the extant literature. These will be tested in the case studies presented in Chaps. 3, 4 and 5.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bawn, K., & Thies, M. F. (2003). A Comparative Theory of Electoral Incentives: Representing the Unorganised Under PR, Plurality and Mixed-Member Electoral Systems. Journal of Theoretical Politics, 15(1), 5–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bértoa, C., & van Biezen, I. (2018). The Regulation of Post-Communist Politics. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Beyme, K. (1985). Political Parties in Western Democracies. New York: St Martin’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Biezen, I. (2003). Political Parties in New Democracies: Party Organization in Southern and East-Central Europe. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • van Biezen, I., & Kopecký, P. (2014). The Cartel Party and the State: Party-State Linkages in European Democracies. Party Politics, 20(2), 170–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bille, L. (1994). Denmark: The Decline of the Membership Party? In R. S. Katz & P. Mair (Eds.), How Parties Organize. London: SAGE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowler, S., & Farrell, D. M. (Eds.). (1992). Electoral Strategies and Political Marketing. Basingstoke: Houndmills.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunce, V. (1997). Presidents and the Transition in Eastern Europe. In K. Von Mettenheim (Ed.), Presidential Institutions and Democratic Politics: Comparing Regional and National Contexts. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carey, J. M., & Shugart, M. S. (1995). Incentives to Cultivate a Personal Vote: A Rank Ordering of Electoral Formulas. Electoral Studies, 14(4), 417–439. https://doi.org/10.1016/0261-3794(94)00035-2.

  • Clark, P. B., & Wilson, J. Q. (1961). Incentive Systems: A Theory of Organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 6, 129–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, G. W. (1990). Electoral Rules and the Calculus of Mobilization. Legislative Studies Quarterly, 24(3), 387–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, R. A., & Tufte, E. R. (1974). Size and Democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deegan-Krause, K., & Haughton, T. (2012). The 2010 Parliamentary Elections in Slovakia. Electoral Studies, 31(1), 222–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denver, D., Hands, G., Fisher, J., & MacAllister, I. (2003). Constituency Campaigning in Britain 1992–2001, Centralization and Modernisation. Party Politics, 9(5), 541–559.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dummett, M. A. E. (1997). Principles of Electoral Reform. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duverger, M. (1954). Political Parties. Bristol: Western Printing Services Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Effing, R., Hillegersberg, J. V., & Huibers, T. (2011). Social Media and Political Participation: Are Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Democratising Our Political Systems? Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 6847, 25–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enyedi, Z., & Linek, L. (2008). Searching for the Right Organization: Ideology and Party Structure in East-Central Europe. Party Politics, 14(4), 455–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enyedi, Z. (2014). The Survival of the Fittest: Party System Concentration in Hungary. In S. Jurgenstam-Mulders (Ed.), Post-Communist EU Member States. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish, M. S. (2006). Stronger Legislatures, Stronger Democracies. Journal of Democracy, 17(1), 5–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fish, M. S., & Kroenig, M. (2009). The Handbook of National Legislatures: A Global Survey. Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gherghina, S., Chiru, M., & Bértoa, F. (2011). State Resources and Pocket Money: Shortcuts for Party Funding in Romania (CEU DISC Working Paper No. 2011/13). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1845264

  • Gherghina, S. (2015). Party Organisation and Electoral Volatility in Central and Eastern Europe. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, D. P., & Gerber, A. S. (2008). Get Out the Vote: How to Increase Voter Turnout. Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karp, J., & Banducci, S. (2007). Party Mobilization and Political Participation in New and Old Democracies. Party Politics, 13(2), 217–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanev, D. (2007). Campaign Finance in Bulgaria. In D. Smilov & J. Toplak (Eds.), Political Finance and Corruption in Eastern Europe. Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirchheimer, O. (1969). The Transformation of the Western European Party System. In F. S. Burin & K. L. Shell (Eds.), Politics, Law and Social Change: Selected Essays of Otto Kirchheimer. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitschelt, H., Mansfeldova, Z., Markowski, R., & Tóka, G. (1999). Post-Communist Party Systems: Competition, Representation and Inter-Party Co-operation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Koole, R. A. (1994). The Vulnerability of the Modern Cadre Party in the Netherlands. In R. S. Katz & P. Mair (Eds.), How Parties Organize: Change and Adaptation in Party Organizations in Western Democracies. London: SAGE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopecký, P. (2001). Parliaments in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Aldershot: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopecký, P. (2008). Political Parties and the State in Post-Communist Europe. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lijphart, A. (1994). Electoral Systems and Party Systems: A Study of Twenty-Seven Democracies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Linz, J. (1990). The Perils of Presidentialism. Journal of Democracy, 1(1), 51–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mainwaring, S. (1993). Presidentialism, Multipartism and Democracy: The Difficult Combination. Comparative Political Studies, 26(2), 198–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mair, P., & Katz, R. S. (1997). Party Organization, Party Democracy and the Emergence of the Cartel Party. In P. Mair (Ed.), Party System Change: Approaches and Interpretations. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mair, P., & van Biezen, I. (2001). Party Membership in Twenty European Democracies. Party Politics, 7(1), 5–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mair, P., Müller, W. C., & Plasser, F. (Eds.). (2004). Political Parties and Electoral Change. London: SAGE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, A., & Cowley, P. (1999). Ambassadors in the Community? Labour Party Members in Society. Politics, 19(2), 89–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • May, J. (1973). Opinion Structure of Political Parties: The Special Law of Curvilinear Disparity. Political Studies, 21(2), 135–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto-Duschinsky, M. (2002). Financing Politics: A Global View. Journal of Democracy, 13(4), 69–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rae, D. W. (1967). The Political Consequences of Electoral Systems. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roper, S., & Ikstens, J. (2008). Public Finance and Post-Communist Party Development. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuels, D. L., & Shugart, M. S. (2010). Presidents, Parties and Prime Ministers: How the Separation of Powers Affects Party Organization and Behaviour. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Scarrow, S. E. (1994). The Paradox of Enrollment: Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Party Memberships. European Journal of Political Research, 25(1), 41–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarrow, S. E. (1995). Political Parties and Their Members: Organizing for Victory in Britain and Germany. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarrow, S. E. (2006). Party Subsidies and the Freezing of Party Competition: Do Cartel Mechanisms Work? West European Politics, 29(4), 619–639.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarrow, S. E. (2014). Beyond Party Members: Changing Approaches to Partisan Mobilization. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Shugart, M. S. (2001). Electoral “Efficiency” and the Move to Mixed Member Systems. Electoral Studies, 20(2), 173–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smilov, D., & Toplak, J. (Eds.). (2007). Political Finance and Corruption in Eastern Europe. Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith-Sivertsen, H. (2004). Why Bigger Party Membership Organisations in Lithuania than in Latvia, 1995–2000. East-European Quarterly, 38(2), 215–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, D. L., & Mancini, P. (Eds.). (1996). Politics, Media and Modern Democracy: An International Study of Innovations in Electoral Campaigning and Their Consequences. Westport: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tavits, M. (2007). Party Systems in the Making: The Emergence and Success of New Parties in New Democracies. British Journal of Political Science, 38, 113–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tavits, M. (2013). Post-Communist Democracies and Party Organization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Učeň, P., Deegan-Krause, K., & Bértoa, F. C. (2017). Limits of Regulation: Party Law and Finance in Slovakia. In F. C. Bértoa & I. van Biezen (Eds.), The Regulation of Post-Communist Party Politics. Basingstoke: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, I. (2003). Localizing the National: The Rediscovery and Reshaping of Local Campaigning in Australia. Party Politics, 9(5), 583–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weldon, S. (2006). Downsize My Polity? The Impact of Size on Party Membership and Member Activism. Party Politics, 12(4), 467–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellhofer, E. S. (1972). Dimensions of Party Development: A Study in Organizational Dynamics. The Journal of Politics, 34(1), 153–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolinetz, S. B. (2002). Beyond the Catch-All Party: Approaches to the Study of Parties and Party Organization in Contemporary Democracies. In R. Gunther et al. (Eds.), Political Parties: Old Concepts and New Challenges. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteley, P. F., & Seyd, P. (2002). High-Intensity Participation: The Dynamics of Party Activism in Britain. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Zittel, T., & Gschwend, T. (2008). Individualised Constituency Campaigns in Mixed-Member Electoral Systems: Candidates in the 2005 German Elections. West European Politics, 331(5), 978–1003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Research Papers

  • Katz, R. S., & Mair, P. (1995). Changing Models of Party Organization and Party Democracy: The Emergence of the Cartel Party. Party Politics, 1(1), 5–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopecký, P. (2007). Political Parties and the State in Post-Communist Europe. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipset, S. M., & Rokkan, S. (1967). Party Systems and Voter Alignments: Cross-National Perspectives. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, P. (2000). A Virtuous Cycle: Political Communications in Post-Industrial Societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panebianco, A. (1988). Political Parties: Organization and Power. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perottino, M., Chmaj, M., Walecki, M., Zbieranek, J., Moraru, A., Iorga, E., et al. (2005). Legislation and Control Mechanisms of Political Parties’ Funding: Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine. Bucharest: Institutul Pentru Politici Publice Bucuresti.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohrschneider, R., & Whitefield, S. (2012). The Strain of Representation: How Parties Represent Diverse Voters in Western and Eastern Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rybář, M. (2006). Powered by the State: The Role of Public Resources in Party-Building in Slovakia. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 22(3), 320–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, P., & White, S. (2007). Party Politics in New Democracies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, W., Johnson, T. J., Seltzer, T., & Bichard, S. L. (2009). The Revolution Will be Networked. Social Science Computer Review, 28(1), 75–92.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Political Developments, Landsmeer, The Netherlands

    Alison F. Smith

Authors
  1. Alison F. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Smith, A.F. (2020). Electoral Institutions and Party Membership. In: Political Party Membership in New Democracies. St Antony's Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41796-3_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation