Bringing contention in: a critical perspective on political parties as institutions

2021/05/04 by Jessica Hejny, Adam Hilton · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Business, Management and Accounting · #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Political Influence and Corporate Strategies #Political Science Research and Education

paper · doi:10.1080/07078552.2021.1949785

openalex publication_date 2021/05/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06

Abstract

Scholars working in the analytic traditions of Historical Institutionalism (HI) and American Political Development (APD) have increasingly turned their attention to the role of political parties in shaping politics across time and space. However, despite recent advances, historically-minded social scientists continue to juxtapose institutions and contentious forms of politics. We argue that such a dichotomy is unwarranted. Specifically, we assert that because of their place and function in the modern democratic polity, political parties are fundamentally and inextricably contentious institutions.

Citations

• A Theory of Political Parties: Groups, Policy Demands and Nominations in American Politics
• Activists and Conflict Extension in American Party Politics
• Ballots and Barricades: On the Reciprocal Relationship between Elections and Social Movements
• The Polarization of Contemporary American Politics
• Party Brands and the Democratic and Republican National Committees, 1952–1976

Cited by

• Democratic National Committee [wikipedia]

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