Party democracy
As party democracy one is called democratic system in which the political parties hold the key role in political decisions. The term can be neutral in terms of value as well as expressing criticism of an overly strong role of the parties (similar to how media democracy can criticize an overly strong role of the media).
Role of the parties
In most western representative democracies, the parties play an “outstanding” role because, according to their historical position, “they are primarily responsible for recruiting personnel for politics ”. Viewed critically, they have a “ monopoly position ” with many privileges (see also: party privilege ). The downsides of party democracy, reinforced by its aspects of so-called competitive democracy , also include the division of political representation into two “opponents” (as in the USA, UK and others) or its so-called “fragmentation” (Belgium and others).
On the other hand, there are democracies in which the parties have fewer or no privileges and, as partners among equals, contribute to “shaping things together” with everyone else. Such systems describe the overlapping models of so-called deliberative , direct , consensus , concordance , participatory , proportional or referendum democracies , (etc.).
Germany
In the Federal Republic of Germany , the parties participate in the formation of the political will of the people in accordance with Article 21 of the Basic Law . All parties are committed to internal party democracy . They have de facto the monopoly for the preparation of after proportional representation elected deputies in the Federation and the countries . For example, a candidate who runs for a direct mandate as well as on a state list of a party has two chances of being elected compared to a non-party candidate who can only be elected with the first vote.
The existence of a pluralistic party landscape in connection with free elections is seen as positive for a representative democratic system. Today, however, a (purely) representative party system is no longer sufficient.
See also
- Party state
- Chancellor democracy , history of the parties in Germany , political system of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Political parties in Germany
- Party privilege , party system , parliamentary directors
- direct democracy
literature
- Andreas von Gehlen: Party democracies. On the legitimation of the EU member states by political parties, De Gruyter Oldenbourg, Berlin / Boston 2017, ISBN 978-3-11-056412-9
Web links
- Federal Agency for Civic Education : Issue of Party Democracy
- Andreas von Gehlen: European party democracy? , Publication about the possibilities of European parties to reduce the legitimacy deficit of the EU, detailed analysis of the national party democracies in the former 15 EU member states
credentials
- ↑ Direct democracy, the co-creator , or - How Germany also misunderstands democracy , Vladimir Rott, August 15, 2015, on his blog
