5 research outputs found
The problem with party finance : theoretical perspectives on the funding of party politics
This article presents some theoretical contours for the study of party finance and its consequences. Two broad issues are explored. First, the article develops an account of changes in patterns of party finance, and in particular the move away from the âmass partyâ model of funding towards âelite partyâ and âcartel partyâ models. Party finance is conceptualized as a collective action problem, and four âpost-mass partyâ financial strategies are identified. Second, the article addresses normative issues, assessing how these four financial models perform in terms of âliberalâ and âpopulistâ theories of democracy. It is concluded that the mass party model remains closest to the âdemocraticâ ideal, whilst the state-financed (âcartelâ) model is a reasonable pragmatic response to the decline in party membership