Party and Society

Political parties are central to democratic life, yet there is no standard definition to describe them or the role they occupy. "Voter-centered" theoretical approaches suggest that parties are the mere recipients of voter interests and loyalties. "Party-centered" approaches, by contrast, envision parties that polarize, democratize, or dominate society. In addition to offering isolated and competing notions of democratic politics, such approaches are also silent on the role of the state and are unable to account for organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the African National Congress, which exhibit characteristics of parties, states, and social movements simultaneously.

In this timely book, Cedric de Leon examines the ways in which social scientists and other observers have imagined the relationship between parties and society. He introduces and critiques the full range of approaches, using enlivening comparative examples from across the globe. Cutting through a vast body of research, de Leon offers a succinct and lively analysis that outlines the key thinking in the field, placing it in historical and contemporary context. The resulting book will appeal to students of sociology, political science, social psychology, and related fields.

Cedric de Leon is assistant professor of sociology at Providence College.

Introduction 1

Part I: Voter-Centered Approaches

1. The Social Voter 19

2. The Partisan Voter 32

3. The Issue Voter 57

Part II: Party-Centered Approaches

4. The Oligarchical Party 75

5. The Functional Party 103

6. The Exclusive Party 124

7. Party, State, and Society 157

Notes 167

References 172

Index 184