The examination of the relationship between mass parties and modern industrial societies

1. RAISES THREE TYPES OF PROBLEMS

a. Examine (inspect//test) why Political organizations in Moderns Institution
Societies should be in Mass Party type
b. Consider under what Circumstances Modern Industrial Societies can have
political system which do not have mass parties
c. Consider the Types of Parties in other societies and Conditions under which
mass parties may develop

2. MASS PARTIES IN INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETIES

Mass Parties are
 defined as Political Organization
- perceived by the citizens and citizens identified;
- externally created and organized by branches;
- appeal to masses and places a heavy emphasis quantity of membership key or
broadening membership in the group

 It requires an effort of abstraction (general idea or concept) on the citizens

- However, it is difficult, since it requires considerable sophistication or
complexness on the broad part of the citizens.

- Meaning: Mass Parties should be clear of what they are trying to impose or fight
for; Citizens will be able to grasp of what they are all about and at least be
influenced by the mass party.
- If by notion of membership, this is where you get to find members or supporters
in the party because you make it clear to the public about your platform and
campaign.

 It develops on the basis on the other existing groups

(Churches, trade unions, ethnic minorities…)
- Mass parties are distinct from ethnic groups and churches. There must be an
existence of the allegiance (commitment/loyalty) of other citizens. These ethnic
communal groups, churches and trade unions were used as BASIS on how to
develop Mass parties. So basically, we can attribute the development of mass
parties to other groups.

- But since it is mass party. context clues “mass” meaning people, mass parties must
involve itself to the society; that’s why it is more concerned to the welfare of whole
society in contrast to other groups such as church, trade unions and ethnic groups
which are more sectoral - small part of a whole.

- Overall, Mass parties could have the capability to manifest and advocate
education, leadership, and involvement of its constituents, in order for its function
to work.
3. MODERN INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETIES
 are societies which both level of general education is high and associational
groups proliferate. (includes people who are skilled and educated due to the
emerging technologies and other devices)

4. HOWEVER, IN MODERN SOCIETIES TWO DIFFERENT POLITICAL SYSTEM EXIST:

1. Mass Party – direct rule; leaders are chosen because they agreed to work on
same political framework as those of the people who elected them.
2. Parties of Committee type – indirect rule; people chooses good men who’ll
elaborate policies and chooses a leader
But parties of committee type are likely to be a HINDRANCE to development.

4. TWO MAIN REASONS

1. National Political System becomes simpler with mass parties.
- Parties of committee type are both concrete and simple to understand within a
small geographical area. But political system tends to be complex at the national
level as the development of these parties is geared/connected to the behavior
and aspirations of each political leader in his domain.

- Parties of Committees are functional in traditional society, since activities takes

place within a small area, but not for Modern Industrial Societies since there is a
high percentage of activities taking place at National level that involves people
living in different nation. This party is both less likely and more dysfunctional than
of the Mass Parties.

- Since in the first type of system, the decisions are result of the actions of a large
number, thus it is highly probable that a system of Mass Parties will be much more
acceptable to Modern Industrialized Societies.

2. Only Mass Parties provide the community which a predictable Political Systems.
- This PREDICTABILITY is paramount/highly important to the
development of Modern Industrial Society.
- Predictable in a sense that elected leaders are of same political framework as
those of the people since they are concerned of the welfare of the society as a
whole.

* Modern Industrial Societies can be more functional when handled by Mass Parties rather
than Parties of the Committee. Mass Parties are requirement of industrial societies since can
operate simplification of political system and be acceptable to more middle and working class
of this societies.
*It is more preferable than of Parties of committees in industrial societies because they lead
to the development of a political system that is more predictable.