A Theory of Political Parties.

Abstract

This paper offers a theory of political parties that explains how their various branches -- in the government, in the electorate, and in organization -- work together to structure political conflict. Its basic posture is that parties are a conspiracy of minority interests against the less attentive and involved. Yet, as a by-product of their wish to govern, parties offer a degree of responsiveness and accountability to all voters. How much depends on how closely voters monitor them — and parties do what they can, via secrecy and dissimulation, to make monitoring difficult. Parties wish to cede only as much to public opinion as necessary to win control of government via fair elections. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]