INTRODUCTION TO

POLITICAL PARTIES
Women and Political Parties

The National Democratic Institute

 INTRODUCTIONS/
GROUND RULES
• Introductions
• Ground rules
• Ice breaker exercise
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL
PARTIES OBJECTIVES
• To understand the roles, functions and
organization of parties
• To consider the importance of internal
democracy to increase representation
of women

Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI

 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL
PARTIES TOPICS

• Roles of political parties

• Party elements and functions
• Internal party democracy
• Women’s participation
 KEY TERMS
• Political party
• Democracy
• Ruling party
• Opposition
• Transparency
• Other terms?

Photo: NDI
 EXERCISE: ROLES OF
POLITICAL PARTIES
• What are the basic roles of parties in a
democracy?

Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI

 ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES

• Competing in elections to gain influence

• Aggregating and representing social
interests
• Providing a structure for political
participation
• Providing policy alternatives
• Training political leaders
 PARTIES AND CITIZENS
Meaningful choices in
governance

Avenues for political

participation
Citizens Political
Parties
Exert pressure on the
political system

Put local concerns in a

national context
 CIVIL SOCIETY AND PARTIES
• CSOs: all groups outside government
• Can play an active role in politics
• Focus on fewer issues
• Do not seek political office
• Can work with a range of parties

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 PARTIES AND ELECTIONS
• Communicate competing policies
• Provide candidates
• Engage in debate
• Foster citizen participation
• Get out the vote
• Set electoral rules
• Promote electoral integrity
• Abide by results
 PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT AND
LOCAL BODIES
• Implement legislative agenda
• Address citizens’ concerns
• Party discipline
• Committee work
• Coalitions

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 PARTIES IN GOVERNMENT

• Run affairs of country

• Develop and implement policy
• Oversee government agencies
• Account for funds
• Deliver on campaign promises
 PARTIES IN OPPOSITION
• Contribute to accountability
• Monitor government actions
• Propose policy alternatives
• Seek compromise and solutions

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 NEED FOR PARTIES
• Political parties are not perfect but…
• Scattering of individuals wouldn’t
function
• Groups would take on party
characteristics
• No other institution represents citizens’
interests as well
 DIVERSITY AMONG PARTIES
• Size
• Funding
• Penetration within the country
• Ethnic makeup
• Ideology
• Governing vs. opposition
 NATIONAL PARTIES
Party Seats in National
Assembly
African National Congress 264
Democratic Alliance 67
Congress of the People 30
Inkatha Freedom Party 18

Map: Wikipedia
 PARTY ELEMENTS AND
FUNCTIONS
• Constitution
• Internal structure and communications
– Branches
– Subgroups
• Leadership selection
• Platform/policy development
• Membership
• Funding
 CONSTITUTION
Party Constitution

Defines philosophy, Defines internal Outlines internal

values, principles organization and decision-making
purpose structure process

Roles and
Leadership positions
Membership eligibility relationship among
and selection process
different units
 EXERCISE: EXPLORING
CONSTITUTIONS
• Political philosophy/values
• Internal organization/structure
• Decision-making process
• Membership
• Leadership positions and selection
PARTY STRUCTURE
 PARTY BRANCHES
Branch Leaders
Party’s position on issues and Members

Have defined roles

and responsibilities

Advice on how to discuss Understand the

difficult/controversial issues party’s mission, goals
and strategies

Report information to
leadership

Info about political Engage leaders in

events/developments exchange of ideas and
decision-making
PARTY SUBGROUPS
 LEADERSHIP SELECTION
• Indirect or direct elections
• Party conventions
• Term limits
• Representation of women, youth, etc.

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 POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Policy developed/informed by:

• Party research staff
• Ad hoc group of experts and party
members
• Consultations and/or public forums
 MEMBERSHIP
Member rights
• Elect the party leadership
• Participate in candidate selection
• Access party-only forums
• Receive special information

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 MEMBERSHIP
Member responsibilities
• Contribute to and know policies and
platform
• Understand constitution and organization
• Ensure party reflects their interests
• Hold leaders accountable
 PARTY FUNDING
• Private
– Membership fees
– Donations from members,
organizations and businesses
– Revenue generating projects/events
• Public
– Direct
– Indirect

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 EXERCISE: ORGANIZATIONAL
SUCCESS FACTORS
• Characteristics of an effective party
• Why are they important?
• What are the consequences if they are
lacking?

Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI

 ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS
FACTORS

• Transparent decision-making procedures

• Understood roles and responsibilities
• Clear and frequent communication
INTERNAL PARTY DEMOCRACY

• Abiding by rules of procedure

• Holding leaders accountable
• Seeking views of members
• Encouraging participation of all
• Representing all of society
EXERCISE: PARTY TRIANGLE
 WHY WOMEN?
• Higher standards of living
• Concerns of marginalized voters
represented
• Collaborative leadership styles
• Work across party lines
• Peace building
• Better decisions
 WHY DO PARTIES NEED
WOMEN?
• To gain party supporters and mobilize
resources
• To help develop a platform that
includes interests of all voters
• To win elections!

Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI

 WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION
Party Women Leaders % of
Members
MQM Rabta Committee 18%
1. Dr. Nasreen Jalil
2. Ms. Mumtaz Anwar
PML Central Cabinet 14%
1. Dr. Hamida Khorho, Senior Vice-President
2. Mrs. Yaqut Jamil-ur-Rehman, Vice-President
3. Begum Mehnaz Rafi, Vice-President
4. Ms. Nilofer Bakhtiar, President, Women’s Wing
PML-N Central Cabinet 4%
1. Begum Tehmina Daultana, Vice-President
2. Begum Ishrat Ashraf
3. Ms. Najma Hameed
PPP Central Executive Committee 5%
1. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Chairperson
2. Begum Nusrat Bhutto Rahbar
 WOMEN’S WING STRUCTURE

• National, regional, local branches

• Linkage to “mother party”
• Representation on decision-making
bodies
• Funding and resources
• Risk: can marginalize women
EXERCISE: WHAT CAN A
WOMEN’S WING DO?

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 WOMEN’S WINGS
• Build awareness of gender frameworks
• Draft gender equality policies and lobby
for and monitor their implementation
• Network with women from other parties
• Identify and engage male allies
• Train women
• Encourage and fund women candidates
• Lobby leaders on women’s issues
 WOMEN’S PARTIES
• Formed in many countries
• Success has been limited
• Prompted discussions on women's rights
and political participation

Photo: Katie Croake, NDI

 INTRODUCTION TO PARTIES
REVIEW
Effective parties are cornerstone of
democracy and
• represent social interests and provide
policy choices
• vary but have common structures
• are transparent, democratic and
communicative
• promote the participation of women