Question

Discuss the demerits of Political Parties.

Discuss the disadvantages of political parties.

Answer 1

1. Local biases: Parties are a source of political prejudice, and each voter is more or less drawn to or repulsed by them to the point where they are unable to make a completely objective assessment of the candidates’ qualifications or policy issues.
2. Source of divisions in society: Parties distort public opinion by creating artificial divisions. Individuals exhibit a wide range of opinions and are not inherently divided into two or more narrow groups by clear-cut boundaries. Furthermore, internal differences among members are not incorporated in order to preserve external unity; rather, they are only permitted to cause rupture and active conflict.
3. Parties cannot reflect and clarify public opinion: Particularly, two parties merely ask “yes” or “no,” while numerous parties allow voters to respond “yes” or “no” to just one proposal. This indicates that the distinctions are not reconciled. Each vote is cast for a specific reason rather than for the group as a whole. Thus, public opinion continues to be skewed.
4. Parties are always dominated by extremists and demagogues: The moderate elements are only spectators; the extreme element always takes the lead. All they do is follow. Since they have nothing else to do, they don’t leave the party. Therefore, despite their disagreements, they follow the extreme elements’ instructions. This indicates that public opinion is still erroneous.
5. Parties are not fully and really representative in nature and functioning: Extreme circumstances can occasionally compel leaders to say and do things they do not want to. The true viewpoint is still unrepresented in that situation as well. “The alternating dominance of one faction over another, exacerbated by the spirit of retaliation inherent in party dissension, which has sustained the most heinous enormities in various eras and nations, is itself a terrifying despotism.”
6. The foreign ‘Connections’ of political parties: Through the channels of party fervour, parties provide access to foreign influence and corruption, which in turn get easier access to the government itself.
7. Unnatural divisions in society: The parties use fabricated grounds rather than fundamental concerns to split the country and the community. One party’s supporters’ agreement is as phony as their disagreement with the other party, which is likewise phony and unreal.
8. Source of disharmony: Parties stir up disaffection and dissatisfaction everywhere. Even the Marquis of Salisbury recognised this defect of parties when he said, “Party discipline is a means to a great end, but in some emergencies and under some leaders it may be made to frustrate the end at which it aims. Take this great end away, and parties become nothing but joint stock companies for the attainment and preservation of place.”