Party Change and Reform

Abstract

How do parties represent their voters in an era of declining party memberships? And what form of linkage do citizens want with their parties? This panel addresses these questions though an analysis of party change and reform. Papers in this panel examine party-citizen linkage through a number of indicators, and discuss the role of party political innovations intended to re-forge political linkages, including the use of digital technology to mobilize popular support, new fund raising strategies, and changing types of party membership. The panel examines barriers to party-citizen linkage and the conditions under which parties can maximise their linkage. The focus is on both older mainstream parties and new populist parties.