Political parties are
very important in the contemporary state system because they give meaning to
the democratic process as important institutional components of liberal democracy.
Thus, this article will examine the functions of political parties. Involved in this analysis is the explanation of the primary functions of political parties as instruments of political interaction and participation.
Meaning of a Political Party
A political party is
an organized group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and
opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates
elected to public office.
The purpose of the political
party is to get candidates elected to public office. In a sustainable and
well-functioning democracy, political parties are deeply and durably rooted in
specific substructures of society.
To this end, they
can link the governmental institutions to the elements of the civil society in
a free and fair society and are regarded as necessary for the effective
functioning of a democratic political system.
The presence of the
political party is a healthy situation for a democratic society since it allows
people to make a more evolved and effective decision.
In a broader
perspective, a political party is a means through which the people can speak to
the government and have a say in the process of governance.
Functions of Political Parties
In a democratic
society, political parties perform the following key roles, among others:
(1) Soliciting and
articulating public policy priorities and civic needs and problems as identified
by members and supporters
(2) Recruiting and
training candidates for public office;
(3) Socializing and
educating voters and citizens in the functioning of the political and electoral
system and the general political values
(4) Balancing
opposing demands and converting into general policies
(6) Channeling
public opinion from citizens to government.
It is noteworthy;
however, that though political parties fulfill many vital roles and perform
several functions in a democratic society, recruiting candidates for public
office is one of the most important functions that political parties perform.
An important goal of
political parties is to gain control of the government and to do this, parties
must work to recruit candidates for all elected offices.
Read On: Meaning, Types and Functions of Pressure Group
Conclusion
on Functions of Political Parties
Political
parties are principal pillars of any democratic system. They provide an opportunity
for citizens to make political decisions either by influencing government
policies or voting for the competing candidates in elections.
By so doing,
they not only serve as intermediaries between the government and civil society
but also offer citizens a choice in governance.
All these are
central to the wider consolidation of democracy.
In this post, we
have examined the meaning and functions of political parties as instruments of
political interaction.
The post also examined
the meaning and functions of political parties.
Involved this
analysis is the functions of political parties and strategies they deploy in
achieving their objectives.