Political Parties

 

A Political party is a group of like-minded individuals who join together in an organisation to achieve a common political aim or support an individual or family. They are ancient and have thrived wherever organized government has existed.

 

Have a look at some different types of Political Parties.

 

Banned Parties
Historically where political parties have been banned by authoritarian regimes or governments nervous of the consequences, parties have often existed in clandestine form to avoid the ban.

 

The political organization that triggered the revolution that overthrew the last Chinese Emperor in 1911-2 was called The Society for Daily Improvement, and masqueraded as a community group to avoid the ban on political parties. Perhaps this explains why the current Chinese Government is so nervous about the meditation group Falun Gong?

 

Family Parties
In many countries single families dominate a political organization and the party exists to promote the family. In Argentina the Peronist Party bears the name of Juan Peron and his charismatic wife Evita Peron who run the country off and on from 1946.

 

Single Issue Parties
Parties often exist to promote one issue only and usually don’t see themselves as seriously attempting to gain power. America’s Marijuana Reform Party is in this category.

 

Silly Parties
Around the world there are light hearted individuals or groups who use the political process as an excuse for merriment. Britain’s Monster Raving Loony Party is a candidate for world’s most ridiculous party.

 

 

 

 

Political Spectrum
The two extremes of the Political spectrum are the right wing and the left wing. The right wing is generally perceived to be conservative and the left is radical. The terms Right and Left ultimately are derived from the Bible where in the book of Hebrews (Heb 12:2) it says:

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

During the French Revolution when the King was forced to call a National Assembly, the conservative supporters of the ancien regime (the Monarchy and church) sat at the right hand side of the Throne, in keeping with this verse. Those opposed to them (radical revolutionaries) sat on the left. Moderates sat in the middle.

 

Parties in the USA

 

Republican Party
Formed to oppose the expansion of slavery in the US, the Republican Party (the Grand Old Party - GOP) was founded on Feb 28, 1854 in Ripon Wisconsin. Abraham Lincoln was the party’s first President elected in 1860 and the party has retained most support in the north and central US.

 

Ed Gillespie is current Chairman of the Republican National Committee and today the party represents conservative values, big business, low taxation, free trade and champions security.

 

Democratic Party

Thomas Jefferson founded the Democratic-Republican Party in 1793 and following a split during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson (1829-1837), Jackson’s faction became the Democratic Party deriving support from the southern slave states.

 

Today’s Democratic National Committee is chaired by Terry McAuliffe and the party represents the interests of minorities, champions liberal social spending and reduced Military involvement.

 

Third Parties

The US political system makes it very difficult for small parties or Independents to achieve success. None achieved any degree of long term success during the 20th Century for example.

 

The Presidential Election in 2004 sees the Green Party as the main third party. Ross Perot’s Reform Party challenged Bill Clinton in a TV campaign in 1992 but effectively took votes mainly from the Republicans to ensure a Democratic victory.