POL214Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Classical Liberalism, Populism, Libertarian Conservatism
Document Summary
Political parties are integral to the operation of almost every aspect of a modern political system, but. Canadians are generally more attuned to their faults than their virtues. Parties are distinct from other groups in society in two main ways. Political parties are usually broader in scope and seek to aggregate, combine, consolidate, or appeal to many different interests or demands. While other groups provide functional" representation, political parties are closely tied to the formal institutions of government, including the electoral system and parliament, all of which are based on territorial representation. Parties are also integrally involved in the legislative and executive operations of government. The most traditional explanation of canadian political parties is the broker or brokerage theory. In their search for power, parties should act as agents of national integration and attempt to reconcile as many divergent interests as possible. Social democracy seeks to liberate the individual from the inequalities and exploitation of the capitalist system.
