POLSCI 2F03 Lecture Notes - Big Red Machine, Gaullist Party, Leader Election
11 Nov 2013
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Document Summary
Political parties and the party system in canada. A formal organization whose self-conscious, primary purpose is to place and maintain in public office persons who will control, alone or in coalition, the machinery of government. Why do they exist: direction connection to democratic institutions. Voting through elections and electoral participation: representation function (aggregate societal interest and articulate) Political parties talk to their members and develop platforms and can be attracted to parties because they have the platforms. Parties are key to development of policy and representation of interest: mediate and providing an important element of stability, legislatures structures along party lines, policy debates shaped by parties. Without electoral success doesn"t have much influence. Pragmatic vs ideological parties (liberals, conservatives, vs new democrats) Ideological party marxist party: base their policy or view based on a specific outlook of how the country should be run. (communist, marxist, etc. ) Pragmatic party more opportunistic: more geared towards electoral success than to party doctrine.
