Are British Political Parties in Decline?

In: Party politics: an international journal for the study of political parties and political organizations, Band 1, Heft 3, S. 299-322

Abstract

Considers whether British political parties are in decline, drawing on empirical data on party legitimacy & party organizational strength. It is found that local party membership & organization has eroded, & affective partisan sentiment has given way to greater voter hesitancy. These indicators of party decline should be seen in a wider context. The decline of party politics is connected to persistent policy shortcomings, particularly in the area of the economy, the growth of the civil servant bureaucracy, & growing incohesiveness of parliamentary parties. Viewed in this light, it is conceded that political parties are no longer articulating & representing interests as efficiently as they once did. However, political parties continue to be resilient because they have adapted to the altered environment & continue to fulfill important political functions in the areas of interest aggregation, political recruitment, & decision making. 4 Tables, 60 References. D. M. Smith