Political Parties, Participation and Representation
Representative democracy cannot function properly without political parties. Political parties provide the vehicle for the electorate to express itself by accommodating diverse interest groups and offering voters different political options. They are also key institutions for inclusive participation and accountable representation, responding and delivering to the needs of the people.
Work programme
International IDEA’s new programme: Political Parties, Participation and Representation (2010) will continue to provide direct support to political parties and promote gender equality, while focusing on two new areas. The first of these is building cooperation and consensus within the prevailing political culture of competition; and the second looks at the political cycle of accountability. This refers to the relationship between the state, the citizen as the voter who can demand accountability, and the citizen as the beneficiary of results delivered by the political system. Read more.
