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Internal Democracy in Political Parties

par Van Haute, Emilie
Editeur scientifique Bolin, Niklas;Hagevi, Magnus
Référence A Research Agenda for Political Parties, Elgar Publishing, London, page (54-70)
Publication Publié, 2026-06-16

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Résumé :

Political parties are central to representative democracy, yet internal party democracy (IPD) remains unevenly understood. This chapter reviews models of internal decision-making, examining how IPD aligns with broader democratic theories. It highlights the dominance of participatory models like ‘one member, one vote,’ and explores the tensions between inclusiveness and other IPD dimensions. The chapter analyzes why some parties reform their internal structures while others resist and assesses the benefits and drawbacks of IPD from both empirical and normative perspectives. It traces the evolution of IPD research, from theory to comparative studies, and identifies key gaps in current knowledge. A forward-looking research agenda urges deeper analysis of informal mechanisms and the diversity of actors within parties, greater integration with wider democratic theory, and expanded methodological reflection.