LECTURE 6LECTURE 6Theme:Theme:

Political parties.Political parties.

PlanPlan

1. Types of party systems.1. Types of party systems. 2. Colors and emblems for 2. Colors and emblems for

parties.parties.

Political partyPolitical party

A A political partypolitical party is a is a political organisationpolitical organisation that seeks to that seeks to attain attain politicalpolitical power within a power within a governmentgovernment, usually by participating , usually by participating in electoral campaigns.in electoral campaigns.

Ideal types of political Ideal types of political parties:parties:

nonpartisan systemnonpartisan system single-party systemsingle-party system ddominant-party systemominant-party system two-party systemtwo-party system triple-party systemtriple-party system

Parties and directions:Parties and directions:

"Left" and "Right" "Left" and "Right" partiesparties

The The emblememblem

The emblemThe emblem of socialist parties is often a of socialist parties is often a red rose held in a fist. Communist parties red rose held in a fist. Communist parties often use a hammer, a sickle, or both. often use a hammer, a sickle, or both.

Symbols can be very important when the Symbols can be very important when the electorate is overall illiterate. In the electorate is overall illiterate. In the Kenyan constitutional referendum, 2005, Kenyan constitutional referendum, 2005, supporters of the constitution used the supporters of the constitution used the banana as their symbol, while the "no" banana as their symbol, while the "no" used an orange.used an orange.

ColorsColors

Pink sometimes signifies moderate Pink sometimes signifies moderate socialist. socialist.

Yellow is often used for liberalism. Yellow is often used for liberalism. Green is the color for green parties and Green is the color for green parties and

Islamist parties. Islamist parties.

Orange is sometimes a color of Orange is sometimes a color of nationalism, such as in nationalism, such as in

The Netherlands, or is a color of reform The Netherlands, or is a color of reform such as in Ukraine.such as in Ukraine.

In the past, Purple was considered the In the past, Purple was considered the color of royalty (like white), but today it is color of royalty (like white), but today it is sometimes used for feminist parties. sometimes used for feminist parties.

Black is generally associated with fascist Black is generally associated with fascist parties, going back to Mussolini's parties, going back to Mussolini's blackshirts. blackshirts.

Similarily, brown is often associated with Similarily, brown is often associated with the Nazism going back to the Nazi the Nazism going back to the Nazi Party's brownshirt security guards.Party's brownshirt security guards.

Color associations are useful for Color associations are useful for mnemonics when voter illiteracy is mnemonics when voter illiteracy is significant. significant.

Another case where they are used is Another case where they are used is when it is not desirable to make rigorous when it is not desirable to make rigorous links to parties, particularly when links to parties, particularly when coalitions and alliances are formed coalitions and alliances are formed between political parties and other between political parties and other organizations, for example:organizations, for example:

Red Tory, "Purple" (Red-Blue) alliances, Red Tory, "Purple" (Red-Blue) alliances, Red-Green Alliances, Red-Green Alliances, Blue-Green Alliances, Blue-Green Alliances, Pan-green coalitions, Pan-green coalitions, Pan-blue coalitions.Pan-blue coalitions.