Political Participation in Democratic Regimes
After the Second World War, with the exception of Spain, democratic regimes were introduced in Europe. This type of government is based on the recognition of universal suffrage and a parliament, with political activity articulated by political parties. This establishes the party as an intermediary between the population, not directly involved in political affairs, and the government of a nation. Intermediation mechanisms are defined as “forms of representation” of citizens. These forms of representation should also be regarded as state structures, and this dual configuration gives them their peculiar features. The political participation of citizens is consistent with a model of different levels according to the responsibilities and tasks assigned.
For the first level, consisting of the mass of the population, political activity is limited to voting. The moments (call for elections), options (political parties), content (manifestos), personalities (candidates)… are determined by institutional apparatus-party structures, to which voters have no access. The right to vote is a right to choose between pre-established options; you cannot exercise any control unless indirectly. The loss of an election is considered a punishment from voters who demand a change in supply. The new design strategy can also involve the members of the first level.
Party Structures and Active Members
The second tier consists of the structures of the parties, which exclude simple affiliates. Active members of the parties are responsible for analyzing, profiling, deciding, and making the various options that present their current group or ideology. This task involves several aspects ranging from the electoral expectations of the group to the cultural elements that shape their ideological or social perspective. Inside party relations between its members are hierarchical and in many cases are governed by interest groups.
State Powers and Party Representation
The third tier consists of state powers in several areas: municipal, regional, and central positions and functions which are occupied by members of the victorious party in the elections, governing on behalf of all and which seek to perpetuate themselves in power.
Democracy and Market Dynamics
The relations established in the dynamics of political parties in democratic states are analogous to the competition established between enterprises in the market dynamics. The citizen, usually politically passive, is closer to the consumer of goods than to a citizen committed to a social project, in a situation where, to continue with the simile, the production of goods and ideas is restricted to a political elite. The consequences of a model that operates in practice as a system of elites would be:
- The fact that political intervention is reduced to a single vote means that citizens are reduced to social atoms whose choice is reduced to responding with a YES/NO to the limited options it faces.
- Powers are reduced because governance issues have become specialized, reserved for party structures and technical advisory cabinets.
- In the dynamics of democracy, parties are detached from their social bases and become political apparatus of the state. They act as representatives of the citizens as policy options symbolize, but act as state organizations.