- Dominant-party system
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A dominant-party system, or one-party dominant system, is a system where there is "a category of parties/political organizations that have successively won election victories and whose future defeat cannot be envisaged or is unlikely for the foreseeable future."[1] A wide range of parties have been cited as being dominant at one time or another, including the Kuomintang in the Republic of China (Taiwan), the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa, and the Indian National Congress in India.[1] Such dominance has not always been a matter of concern, with for example the dominance of the Indian National Congress being seen by some as source of stability supportive of the consolidation of democracy.[1]
Opponents of the "dominant party" system or theory argue that it views the meaning of democracy as given, and that it assumes that only a particular conception of representative democracy (in which different parties alternate frequently in power) is valid.[1] One author argues that "the dominant party 'system' is deeply flawed as a mode of analysis and lacks explanatory capacity. But it is also a very conservative approach to politics. Its fundamental political assumptions are restricted to one form of democracy, electoral politics and hostile to popular politics. This is manifest in the obsession with the quality of electoral opposition and its sidelining or ignoring of popular political activity organised in other ways. The assumption in this approach is that other forms of organisation and opposition are of limited importance or a separate matter from the consolidation of their version of democracy."[1]
One of the dangers of dominant parties is "the tendency of dominant parties to conflate party and state and to appoint party officials to senior positions irrespective of their having the required qualities."[1] However, in some countries this is common practice even when there is no dominant party.[1] In contrast to single-party systems, dominant-party systems can occur within a context of a democratic system. In a single-party system other parties are banned, but in dominant-party systems other political parties are tolerated, and (in democratic dominant-party systems) operate without overt legal impediment, but do not have a realistic chance of winning; the dominant party genuinely wins the votes of the vast majority of voters every time (or, in authoritarian systems, claims to). Under authoritarian dominant-party systems, which may be referred to as "electoralism" or "soft authoritarianism", opposition parties are legally allowed to operate, but are too weak or ineffective to seriously challenge power, perhaps through various forms of corruption, constitutional quirks that intentionally undermine the ability for an effective opposition to thrive, institutional and/or organizational conventions that support the status quo, or inherent cultural values averse to change.
In some states opposition parties are subject to varying degrees of official harassment and most often deal with restrictions on free speech (such as press club), lawsuits against the opposition, rules or electoral systems (such as gerrymandering of electoral districts) designed to put them at a disadvantage. In some cases outright electoral fraud keeps the opposition from power. On the other hand, some dominant-party systems occur, at least temporarily, in countries that are widely seen, both by their citizens and outside observers, to be textbook examples of democracy. The reasons why a dominant-party system may form in such a country are often debated: Supporters of the dominant party tend to argue that their party is simply doing a good job in government and the opposition continuously proposes unrealistic or unpopular changes, while supporters of the opposition tend to argue that the electoral system disfavors them (for example because it is based on the principle of first past the post), or that the dominant party receives a disproportionate amount of funding from various sources and is therefore able to mount more persuasive campaigns. In states with ethnic issues, one party may be seen as being the party for an ethnicity or race with the party for the majority ethnic, racial or religious group dominating, e.g., ANC in South Africa (governing since 1994) has strong support amongst Black South Africans, the Ulster Unionist Party governed Northern Ireland from its creation in 1921 until 1972 with the support of the Protestant majority.
Sub-national entities are often dominated by one party due the area's demographic being on one end of the spectrum. For example Hawaii and DC have been governed by Democrats since their creation, Bavaria by the Christian Social Union since 1957, Alberta by Progressive Conservatives since 1971. In contrast some sub-national entities have comparatively more conservative or liberal forms of the parties in their entity, for example an Oklahoma Democrat is likely to be at least as conservative as a Minnesota Republican.
Contents
Examples
Current dominant-party systems
Africa
- Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola — Workers' Party, Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola — Partido do Trabalho (MPLA-PT)
- Led by President José Eduardo dos Santos, in office since 10 September 1979
- In power since independence, 11 November 1975; sole legal party, 1977–91
- Presidential election, 1992: José Eduardo dos Santos (MPLA-PT) 49.6% NB: As he had not attained absolute majority, a runoff against Jonas Savimbi (40,1%) was required, but did not take place, so that José Eduardo dos Santos has been since then in office without democratic legitimacy.
- Parliamentary election, 1992: MPLA 53.7% and 129 of 220 seats
- Parliamentary election, 2008: MPLA 81.6% and 191 of 220 seats
- New constitution, 2010: popular election of president abolished in favour of election by parliament; presidency of José Eduardo dos Santos legitimated for the first tim
- New parliamentaru elections announced for 2012; José Eduardo dos Santos declares he will not again be a candidate
- Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)
- Led by President Ian Khama, in office since 1 April 2008
- In power since 3 March 1965
- Parliamentary election, 2009: BDP 53.26% and 45 of 57 seats
- Congress for Democracy and Progress (Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Progrès, CDP)
- Led by President Blaise Compaoré, in office since 15 October 1987
- In power, under various names, since 24 December 1991
- Presidential election, 2005: Blaise Compaoré (CDP) 80.4%
- Parliamentary election, 2002: CDP 49.5% and 47 of 91 seats
- Cameroonian People's Democratic Movement (Rassemblement Démocratique et Populaire du Cameroun, RDPC)
- Led by President Paul Biya, in office since 6 November 1982
- In power, under various names, since independence, 1 January 1960 (Sole legal party, 1966–1990)
- Presidential election, 2004: Paul Biya (RDPC) 70.9%
- Parliamentary election, 2007: RDPC 153 of 180 seats
- Patriotic Salvation Movement (Mouvement Patriotique de Salut de SMPS)
- Led by President Idriss Déby Itno, in office since 2 December 1990
- In power since 2 December 1990
- Presidential election, 2006: Idriss Déby (MPS) 64.7%
- Parliamentary election, 2002: MPS 110 of 155 seats
- Congolese Labour Party (Parti Congolais du Travail, PCT)
- Led by President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, in office from 8 February 1979 to 31 August 1992 and since 15 October 1997
- In power, under various names, from 1963 to 1992 and since 1997 (Sole legal party, 1963–1990)
- Presidential election, 2002: Denis Sassou-Nguesso (PCT) 89.4%
- Parliamentary election, 2002: PCT 53 of 137 seats
- Popular Rally for Progress (Rassemblement Populaire pour de Progrès, RPP)
- Led by President Ismail Omar Guelleh, in office since 8 May 1999
- In power since its formation in 1979 (Sole legal party, 1979–1992)
- Presidential election, 2005: Ismail Omar Guelleh (RPP) re-elected unopposed
- Parliamentary election, 2003: RPP in coalition, 62.4% and 65 of 65 seats
- Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (Partido Democrático de Guinea Ecuatorial, PDGE)
- Led by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, in office since 3 August 1979
- In power since its formation in 1987 (Sole legal party, 1987–1991)
- Presidential election, 2002: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 97.1%
- Parliamentary election, 2004: PDGE 47.5% and 68 of 100 seats (91.9% and 98 of 100 seats including allies)
- Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
- Led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, in office since 28 May 1991 (as prime minister since 22 August 1995)
- In power since 28 May 1991
- Parliamentary election, 2005: EPRDF 327 of 547 seats
- Gabonese Democratic Party (Parti Démocratique Gabonais, PDG)
- Led by President Ali Bongo Ondimba, in office since 16 October 2009
- In power, under various names, since 28 November 1958 (Sole legal party, 1968–1991)
- Presidential election, 2009: Ali Bongo Ondimba (PDG) 41.7%
- Parliamentary election, 2006: PDG 82 of 120 seats (99 of 120 seats including allies)
- Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC)
- Led by President Yahya Jammeh, in office since 22 July 1994
- In power since its formation in 1996
- Presidential election, 2006: Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh (APRC) 67.3%
- Parliamentary election, 2007: APRC 42 of 48 seats
- Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD)
- Led by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, in office since 29 May 1998
- In power since its formation in 1997
- Parliamentary election, 2007: LCD 61 of 120 seats
- Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO)
- Led by President Armando Guebuza, in office since 2 February 2005
- In power since independence, 25 June 1975 (Sole legal party, 1975–1990)
- Presidential election, 2004: Armando Guebuza (FRELIMO) 63.7%
- Parliamentary election, 2004: FRELIMO 62.0% and 160 of 250 seats
- South-West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO)
- Led by President Hifikepunye Pohamba, in office since 21 March 2005
- In power since independence, 21 March 1990
- Presidential election, 2004: Hifikepunye Pohamba (SWAPO) 76.4%
- Parliamentary election, 2004: SWAPO 55 of 72 seats
- People's Democratic Party (PDP)
- Led by President Goodluck Jonathan, in office since 5 May 2010
- In power since 29 May 1999
- Presidential election, 2011: Goodluck Jonathan (PDP) 58.9%
- Parliamentary election, 2003: PDP 54.8% and 198 of 318 seats
- Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)
- Led by President Paul Kagame, in office since 24 March 2000
- In power since 19 July 1994
- Presidential election, 2003: Paul Kagame (RPF) 95.1%
- Parliamentary election, 2003: RPF 73.8% and 40 of 53 seats
- People's Party
- Led by President James Michel, in office since 14 April 2004
- In power since 5 June 1977 (Sole legal party, 1979–1991)
- Presidential election, 2006: James Michel (SPPF) 53.7%
- Parliamentary election, 2007: SPPF 56.2% and 23 of 34 seats
- African National Congress (ANC)
- Led by President Jacob Zuma, in office since 9 May 2009
- In power since 10 May 1994
- Parliamentary election, 2009: ANC 65.90% and 264 of 400 seats
- Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)
- Led by President Salva Kiir, in office since 11 August 2005
- In power since 9 July 2005
- Presidential election, 2010: Salva Kiir (SPLM) 93%
- National Congress (NC)
- Led by President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, in office since 30 June 1989
- In power since its formation, 16 October 1993
- Presidential election, 2010: Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir (NC) 68.24%
- Parliamentary election, 2010: NC 306 of 450 seats
- Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)
- Led by President Jakaya Kikwete, in office since 21 December 2005
- In power, under various names, since independence, 9 December 1961 (Sole legal party, 1964–1992)
- Presidential election, 2005: Jakaya Kikwete (CCM) 80.3%
- Parliamentary election, 2005: CCM 206 of 232 seats
- Rally of the Togolese People (RPT)
- Led by President Faure Gnassingbé, in office since 5 February 2005
- In power since its formation in 1969 (Sole legal party, 1969–1991)
- Presidential election, 2005: Faure Gnassingbé (RPT) 60.2%
- Parliamentary election, 2007: RPT 50 of 81 seats
- Zimbabwe African National Union — Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)
- Led by President Robert Mugabe, in office since 18 April 1980 (as president since 31 December 1987)
- In power since independence, 17 April 1980
- Presidential election, 2002: Robert Mugabe (ZANU-PF) 56.2%
- House of Assembly election, 2005: ZANU-PF 59.6% and 78 of 120 elective seats (30 additional seats reserved for appointees)
- Senate election, 2005: ZANU-PF 73.7% and 43 of 50 elective seats (16 additional seats reserved for appointees and traditional chiefs)
- Polisario Front
- In power since 1976
- Led by Secretary General Mohamed Abdelaziz
- General Popular Congress 2002: 100%
- In 2004, a splinter group, the Front Polisario Khat al-Shahid was announced.
Americas
- The Barbuda People's Movement has ruled the island of Barbuda since 1979, and has won every election for the island's seat in the national House of Representatives.
- The Canadian province of Alberta has been ruled continuously by the Progressive Conservatives since August 30, 1971. Prior to that, the Social Credit Party held power for 36 years starting on August 22, 1935.
- The Progressive Labour Party has been in power continuously since November 1998.
United States[citation needed]
- District of Columbia has been continuously ruled by the Democratic Party since the Home Rule Act of 1973, which granted D.C. an elected city government.
- The Mayoralty of Chicago has been held by a member of the Democratic Party since 1927. In addition, as of 2008[update], all aldermen on the Chicago City Council save one (Brian Doherty) are Democrats.
- Massachusetts has had an unbroken Democratic majority in its legislature since the late 1950s; the Governorship, however, has seen fairly even distribution between Republicans and Democrats.
- During "Era of Good Feelings" the Democratic Republican Party dominated with no effective opposition from the Federalists, allowing James Monroe to run unopposed in the 1820 presidential election.
- Hawaii poltics have been dominated by the Democratic Party since the Democratic Revolution of 1954.
- Texas Texas statewide been increasingly dominated by the Republican since the 1970s. Some counties haven't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1948. Republicans have held all statewide offices since 1994 and they currently hold a super-majority in the Texas House of Representatives.
- United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), previously Fifth Republic Movement, formed by a coalition of nearly all pro-Chávez parties.
- Led by President Hugo Chávez, in office since 2 February 1999
- Presidential election, 2006: Hugo Chávez 62.84%
- Parliamentary election, 2010: 96 of 167 seats
Asia / Oceania
- Cambodian People's Party (KPK)
- Led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, in office since 14 January 1985
- In power since 1981
- Nur Otan is headed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev and holds all seats in the Majilis.
- Barisan Nasional (National Front), a coalition of 14 parties led by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO)
- Led by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, in office since 3 April 2009 [1]
- In power since independence, 28 August 1957
- Parliamentary election, 2008: UMNO 29.33% and 79 out of 222 seats, total for Barisan Nasional 50.27% and 140 out of 222 seats
- Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP)
- Led by Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi, in office since 23 November 1998
- In power since 1982
- Parliamentary election, 2006: HRPP 35 of 49 seats
- People's Action Party (PAP)
- Led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in office since 12 August 2004
- In power since 3 June 1959
- Parliamentary election, 2011: PAP won 60.1% of the popular vote and 81 out of 87 seats (of which 5 were uncontested)
- People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT)
- Led by President Emomalii Rahmon
- In power since 1992
- General People's Congress (GPC)
- Led by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in office since 22 May 1990
- In power since the unification of North Yemen and South Yemen in 1990
- Presidential Election, 2006: Ali Abdullah Saleh (GPC) 77.2%
- Parliamentary Election, 2003: GPC 58.0% and 238 out of 301 seats
Europe
- The Republican Party of Armenia is the dominant party in Armenia since the election of Robert Kocharyan as President, continuing under his successor Serzh Sargsyan.
- New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) has been in power essentially continuously since 1993.
- Bavaria (Germany)[citation needed]
- Christian Social Union has dominated politics in the state of Bavaria since 1957. Forming the government on their own for most of this period, they are now in a coalition government.
- United National Movement is seen as dominant, having been the primary sponsor of the Rose Revolution of 2003.
- The Christian Social People's Party (CSV), with its predecessor Party of the Right, has governed Luxembourg continuously since 1917, except for 1974–79. However, Luxembourg has a coalition system, and the CSV has been in coalition with at least one of the two next two leading parties for all but four years. It has always won a plurality of seats in parliamentary elections, although it has lost the popular vote in 1964 and 1974.
- The Partit Nazzjonalista has democratically been the sole governing party in Malta since 1987, except for a brief 22-month period between 1996 and 1998. It won elections held in 1987, 1992, 1998, 2003 and 2008, each time defeating the left-of-centre Malta Labour Party. Since 1966 there have only been these two parties represented in the Maltese Parliament.
- Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro, founded in 1943 as Communist Party of Montenegro, part of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia
- Led by Milo Đukanović, five time Prime Minister (1991–1998, 2003–2006, 2008–2010) and former President (1998–2002)
- In power since establishment of Communist rule in Montenegro/Yugoslavia in 1944/5 (Sole legal party, 1945–1990)
- Presidential election, 2008: Filip Vujanović (DPS CG), 51.89%
- Parliamentary election, 2009: DPS CG in coalition, 51.94% and 48 (35) of 81 seats
- United Russia
- Led by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (President 1999–2008 and Prime Minister since 2008), nominated President Dmitry Medvedev (since 2008)
- In power since 2003
- Presidential election, 2008: Dmitry Medvedev 70.28%
- Parliamentary election, 2007: 64.1% and 315 of 450 seats
- Wales (United Kingdom)[citation needed]
- Welsh Labour Party
- Led by First Minister Carwyn Jones (First Minister since 2009)
- In power since 1999
- UK general election, 2010 in Wales: Won 26 of 40 Welsh seats to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
- National Assembly for Wales election, 2011: 42.3% and 30 of 60 seats
Former dominant parties
North America
- The Democratic-Republican Party was the dominant party nationwide in the United States during the Era of Good Feelings (1816–1824). Also, the Democratic Party was dominant in the Southern United States from the end of Reconstruction to the 1960s and 1970s (the Solid South) and across much of the nation during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Republicans won 14 out of 19 presidential elections from 1860 to 1932, while the Democrats won five consecutive elections from 1932 to 1948.
- The Liberal Party of Canada, in Canada for much of the twentieth century, and nineteenth, was the dominant party, so much so that it earned the moniker natural governing party.
- The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, in Ontario (in Canada) from 1943 to 1985.
- The Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI) in Mexico from the 1920s until 2000.
Caribbean and Central America
- The Popular Democratic Party in Puerto Rico from 1949 to 1969.
- The Antigua Labour Party in Antigua and Barbuda, 1960–1971 and 1976–2004.
- The Nationalist Liberal Party in Nicaragua from 1937 to 1979.
- The United Bermuda Party in Bermuda from 1968 to 1998.
South America
- The Liberal Party of Colombia from 1863 to 1880
- The National Autonomist Party (PAN) of Argentina from 1874 to 1916
- The Colorado Party of Uruguay, between 1868 and 1959
- The Colorado Party of Paraguay, 1880–1904 and 1947–2008. They were the sole legal party from 1947 to 1962.
- The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) in Bolivia from 1952 to 1964.
Europe
- The Portuguese Republican Party, during most of the Portuguese First Republic's existence (1910–1926). After the coup that put an end to the constitutional monarchy in 1910, the electoral system, which had always ensured victory to the party in government, was not changed. Before 1910, it was the king's task to ensure that no one party remain too long in government, by disbanding parliament and calling for new elections. The republic's constitution added no such proviso, and the Portuguese Republican Party was able to keep the other minor republican parties (monarchic parties had been declared illegal) from winning elections. On the rare occasions when it was ousted from power, it was overtrown by force and was again by the means of a counter-coup that it returned to power, until its final fall, with the republic itself, in 1926.
- The Party of the Right in Luxembourg (1917–1925)
- The Ulster Unionist Party in the former devolved administration of Northern Ireland between 1921 to 1972.[4]
- The Swedish Social Democratic Party in Sweden from 1932 to 1976 except only for some months in 1936 (1936–1939 and 1951–1957 in coalition with the Farmers' League, 1939–1945 at the head of a government of national unity) It has also held the power the vast majority of elections even after 1976, and is still the largest party in Sweden.
- The Norwegian Labour Party ruling from 1935 to 1965, though it has been the biggest party in Norway since 1927 and has been in power many other times.
- The Scottish Labour Party won every election in Scotland between the 1960s and 2007
- Convergència i Unió coalition (federated political party after 2001) in Catalonia governed the autonomous Catalan government from 1980 to 2003 under the leadership of Jordi Pujol with parliamentary absolute majority or in coalition with other smaller parties.
- The Socialist Party of Serbia in FR Yugoslavia from 1992 to 2000.
- Ireland's Fianna Fáil was the largest party in Dáil Éireann between 1932 to 2011 and in power for 61 of those 79 years. However, the party were heavily defeated in the Irish general election, 2011, coming third.
- Italy's Christian Democracy dominated the politics of Italy for almost 50 years as the major party in every coalition that governed the country from 1944 until its demise amid a welter of corruption allegations in 1992–1994.
Asia
- The Nacionalista Party in the Philippines was the dominant party during various times in the nation's history from 1916–1941, and on 1945
- The Indian National Congress from 1946 to 1977.[5]
- The Muslim League in Pakistan from 1947 to 1958.
- The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League in Burma (now Myanmar) from 1948 to 1962.
- The Kuomintang established a de facto one-party state in the Republic of China (Taiwan) until political liberalization and the lifting of martial law in the late 1970s. The Kuomintang continued to dominate the political system until the victory of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in the 2000 presidential election
- Japan Liberal Democratic Party, in power 1955–1993 and 1994–2009
- The Golkar (Acronym of Golongan Karya or Functional Group) in Indonesia from 1971 to 1999.
- Kilusang Bagong Lipunan in the Philippines from 1978–1986.
- Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) was the dominant party during the term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 2001-2010.
Africa
- The National Party in South Africa from 1948 to 1994.
- The National Democratic Party (NDP) of Egypt, under various names, from 1952 to 2011 (sole legal party in 1953–1978)
- The Democratic Constitutional Rally in Tunisia, 1956-2011 (as the sole legal party between 1957 and 1988)
- The Socialist Party in Senegal from 1960 to 2000.
- The People's Progressive Party in The Gambia from 1962 to 1994.
- The Party of Unity and Progress was in power in Guinea since its formation in 1992 until it was overthrown by a military coup in December 2008.
- The Movement for Multiparty Democracy in Zambia from 1991 to 2011.
See also
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f g Suttner, R. (2006), "Party dominance 'theory': Of what value?", Politikon 33 (3), pp. 277-297
- ^ Mehler, Andreas; Melber, Henning; Van Walraven, Klaas (2009). Africa Yearbook: Politics, Economy and Society South of the Sahara in 2008. Leiden: Brill. p. 411. ISBN 9789004178113. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xOVYchAfCYYC.
- ^ http://www.bertelsmann-transformation-index.de/bti/laendergutachten/laendergutachten/oestliches-und-suedliches-afrika/angola (English)
- ^ Garnett, Mark; Lynch, Philip (2007). Exploring British Politics. London: Pearson Education. p. 322. ISBN 9780582894310. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-YI5u5PlHgQC.
- ^ Johari, J. C. (1997). Indian Political System: a Critical Study of the Constitutional Structure and the Emerging Trends of Indian Politics. New Delhi: Anmol Publications. p. 250. ISBN 9788174881625. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KillvzAa4rwC&pg=PA242.
Categories:- Political party systems
- Elections
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