Political parties in modern democracy: Term and elements

Abstract

Political parties are a necessary component of democratic systems. In the paper, the author defines the concept and basic elements of the concept of political parties, keeping in mind the political and public legal dimension. The paper analyzes five basic elements that classical and more modern authors considered when defining political parties. These are: ideology, expression of interests of social groups, realization of state (national) interest, nomination of candidates in elections for public-political positions, exercise of power and permanence. During the discussion, the change of the political party, and therefore the entire political scene with the changes that took place in society through the development of the economy, consumer society and mass media, were taken into account. Thus, certain elements that classical theorists of political parties considered the essence of former parties, such as ideology and representation of the interests of certain social groups, became more symbolic and easily changeable. The paper therefore gives one definition containing the necessary, constitutive elements. Hence, political parties are defined as permanent (permanent) organizations that, by nominating candidates in elections, enable the exercise of political power and the implementation of certain policies that are to be implemented through legally binding decisions and norms.

Keywords

• political parties
• ideology
• running in elections
• democracy