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Comparative Politics and Government

Notes 2. It gives adequate representation to numerous interests of the people. Political parties may widen
their base by means of having alliances with organised interest groups. Obviously, such a system
has the merit of elasticity and mobility.
3. It also protects the individuality of a self-respecting person. In case he is not satisfied with the
working of one party, he may leave it and join some other party of his choice. Since other
parties are there, he may opt for anyone of them without any fear of being condemned by this
or that party in particular.
4. Above all, it acts as a powerful check on the trend of despotism. The leaders of a party cannot
act arbitrarily in dealing with the rank and file. The ministers also have to act in a responsible
way. In a coalition government dictatorial position of any party is impossible.
But it has its demerits too. These are:
1. The large number of political parties creates a lot of confusion. It is possible that no party is in
a position to have stable majority. As a result, the government would not enjoy stability.
Coalitions may be formed and deformed from time to time with the result that the tenure of a
government is as short as that of a month as in the case of French cabinets under the Fourth
Republic (1946-58).
2. It encourages small groups to enter into the arena of struggle for power. The result is that the
legislature is converted into a theatre of conflicting factions. Local and sectional interests
dominate the scene. Considerations of general interest are ignored.
3. The fact of the instability of government and the role of powerful interest groups mar
administrative efficiency and seriously affect smooth working of the mechanism of political
organisation.
4. The mushroom growth of political parties coupled with the fact of their frequent fragmentation
and polarisation obstruct the creation of a healthy public opinion and a healthy opposition
capable of offering sound prospects of an alternative government in the country.
In the end, it may be asked as to which model is the best of all. No final conclusion can be given here,
though this much maybe said that the model of one-partyism is undemocratic. But the models of bi-
partyism and multi-partyism are quite democratic. And if it is further asked as to which of the two is
better? Now it may be said the both models are equally good and it depends upon the local conditions
of a country as to which model she should adopt. The main requirement is that the system should be
successful in its operation. Britain and America are well satisfied with the stability of their bi-party
system. Other countries like Switzerland and Germany are also satisfied with the stable character of
their multi-party system. A fine conclusion would be: “In any event the advantages and disadvantages
of either system are relative to the intelligence and culture of the community. The essential thing is
that government should rest on as broad a basis of opinion as possible, maintaining, in spite of its
party character, the unity of a whole people”
Critical Appreciation

Now we may look into the issue of merits and demerits of the party system and then have a peep into
the possible way out. The merits of the party system may be enumerated as under:
1. It is argued that political parties are in accord with human nature. The people of a country have
different nature and temperament due to which they have different social, economic and political
ideas. It is on account of this fact that groups and factions of the people have always been in
esistence, though it is a different matter that they have assumed some new names in modern
times.
2. Political parties have an importance of their own in modem times of democracy that “rests in its
hopes and doubts upon the party system. There is the political centre of gravity.” A party acts
as the vehicle of ideas and opinions of the people and a powerful instrument for holding elections.
Without political parties the electorate would be highly diffused and atomised and opinions
too variant and dispersive. Hence, the true reason for the existence of the party is bringing
public opinion to a focus and framing issues for the political verdict.”

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