INTRODUCTION TO
POLITICAL PARTIES
Women and Political Parties
The National Democratic Institute
INTRODUCTIONS/
GROUND RULES
• Introductions
• Ground rules
• Ice breaker exercise
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL
PARTIES OBJECTIVES
• To understand the roles, functions and
organization of parties
• To consider the importance of internal
democracy to increase representation
of women
Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL
PARTIES TOPICS
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Roles of political parties
Party elements and functions
Internal party democracy
Women’s participation
KEY TERMS
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Political party
Democracy
Ruling party
Opposition
Transparency
Other terms?
Photo: NDI
EXERCISE: ROLES OF
POLITICAL PARTIES
• What are the basic roles of parties in a
democracy?
Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI
ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES
• Competing in elections to gain influence
• Aggregating and representing social
interests
• Providing a structure for political
participation
• Providing policy alternatives
• Training political leaders
PARTIES AND CITIZENS
Meaningful choices in
governance
Avenues for political
participation
Citizens
Exert pressure on the
political system
Put local concerns in a
national context
Political
Parties
CIVIL SOCIETY AND PARTIES
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CSOs: all groups outside government
Can play an active role in politics
Focus on fewer issues
Do not seek political office
Can work with a range of parties
Photo: NDI
PARTIES AND ELECTIONS
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Communicate competing policies
Provide candidates
Engage in debate
Foster citizen participation
Get out the vote
Set electoral rules
Promote electoral integrity
Abide by results
PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT AND
LOCAL BODIES
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Implement legislative agenda
Address citizens’ concerns
Party discipline
Committee work
Coalitions
Photo: NDI
PARTIES IN GOVERNMENT
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Run affairs of country
Develop and implement policy
Oversee government agencies
Account for funds
Deliver on campaign promises
PARTIES IN OPPOSITION
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Contribute to accountability
Monitor government actions
Propose policy alternatives
Seek compromise and solutions
Photo: NDI
NEED FOR PARTIES
• Political parties are not perfect but…
• Scattering of individuals wouldn’t
function
• Groups would take on party
characteristics
• No other institution represents citizens’
interests as well
DIVERSITY AMONG PARTIES
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Size
Funding
Penetration within the country
Ethnic makeup
Ideology
Governing vs. opposition
NATIONAL PARTIES
Party
Seats in National
Assembly
African National Congress 264
Democratic Alliance
67
Congress of the People
30
Inkatha Freedom Party
18
Map: Wikipedia
PARTY ELEMENTS AND
FUNCTIONS
• Constitution
• Internal structure and communications
– Branches
– Subgroups
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Leadership selection
Platform/policy development
Membership
Funding
CONSTITUTION
Party Constitution
Defines philosophy,
values, principles
purpose
Defines internal
organization and
structure
Outlines internal
decision-making
process
Membership eligibility
Leadership positions
and selection process
Roles and
relationship among
different units
EXERCISE: EXPLORING
CONSTITUTIONS
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Political philosophy/values
Internal organization/structure
Decision-making process
Membership
Leadership positions and selection
PARTY STRUCTURE
Convention
Executive
Committee
Party Officers
Regional and Local Branches and
Subgroups
Individual Party Members
PARTY BRANCHES
Party
Party Leadership
Leadership
Party’s position on issues
Branch Leaders
and Members
Have defined roles
and responsibilities
Advice on how to discuss
difficult/controversial issues
Understand the
party’s mission, goals
and strategies
Report information to
leadership
Info about political
events/developments
Engage leaders in
exchange of ideas and
decision-making
PARTY SUBGROUPS
Think
tanks
Policyoriented
factions
Profession
-based
groups
Women’s
groups
Party
Youth
groups
LEADERSHIP SELECTION
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Indirect or direct elections
Party conventions
Term limits
Representation of women, youth, etc.
Photo: NDI
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Policy developed/informed by:
• Party research staff
• Ad hoc group of experts and party
members
• Consultations and/or public forums
MEMBERSHIP
Member rights
• Elect the party leadership
• Participate in candidate selection
• Access party-only forums
• Receive special information
Photo: NDI
MEMBERSHIP
Member responsibilities
• Contribute to and know policies and
platform
• Understand constitution and
organization
• Ensure party reflects their interests
• Hold leaders accountable
PARTY FUNDING
• Private
– Membership fees
– Donations from members,
organizations and businesses
– Revenue generating projects/events
• Public
– Direct
– Indirect
Photo: www.pixabay.com
EXERCISE: ORGANIZATIONAL
SUCCESS FACTORS
• Characteristics of an effective party
• Why are they important?
• What are the consequences if they are
lacking?
Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI
ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS
FACTORS
• Transparent decision-making procedures
• Understood roles and responsibilities
• Clear and frequent communication
INTERNAL PARTY DEMOCRACY
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Abiding by rules of procedure
Holding leaders accountable
Seeking views of members
Encouraging participation of all
Representing all of society
EXERCISE: PARTY TRIANGLE
WHY WOMEN?
• Higher standards of living
• Concerns of marginalized voters
represented
• Collaborative leadership styles
• Work across party lines
• Peace building
• Better decisions
WHY DO PARTIES NEED
WOMEN?
• To gain party supporters and mobilize
resources
• To help develop a platform that
includes interests of all voters
• To win elections!
Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI
WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION
Party Women Leaders
% of
Members
MQM
Rabta Committee
1. Dr. Nasreen Jalil
2. Ms. Mumtaz Anwar
18%
PML
Central Cabinet
1. Dr. Hamida Khorho, Senior Vice-President
2. Mrs. Yaqut Jamil-ur-Rehman, Vice-President
3. Begum Mehnaz Rafi, Vice-President
4. Ms. Nilofer Bakhtiar, President, Women’s Wing
14%
PML-N
Central Cabinet
1. Begum Tehmina Daultana, Vice-President
2. Begum Ishrat Ashraf
3. Ms. Najma Hameed
4%
PPP
Central Executive Committee
1. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Chairperson
2. Begum Nusrat Bhutto Rahbar
5%
WOMEN’S WING STRUCTURE
• National, regional, local branches
• Linkage to “mother party”
• Representation on decision-making
bodies
• Funding and resources
• Risk: can marginalize women
EXERCISE: WHAT CAN A
WOMEN’S WING DO?
Photo: NDI
WOMEN’S WINGS
• Build awareness of gender frameworks
• Draft gender equality policies and lobby
for and monitor their implementation
• Network with women from other parties
• Identify and engage male allies
• Train women
• Encourage and fund women candidates
• Lobby leaders on women’s issues
WOMEN’S PARTIES
• Formed in many countries
• Success has been limited
• Prompted discussions on women's rights
and political participation
Photo: Katie Croake, NDI
INTRODUCTION TO PARTIES
REVIEW
Effective parties are cornerstone of
democracy and
• represent social interests and provide
policy choices
• vary but have common structures
• are transparent, democratic and
communicative
• promote the participation of women