Atypical Militants in Political Parties

Abstract

In this panel, papers will deal with atypical and improbable militant careers in political parties. How to explain an agent's membership to a party when his social properties does not predispose him to it? Can we identify changes in his trajectory and his socialization which can make this possible? What are the consequences? Can we observe for example less intensity of the militancy and/or specific knowledges and know-how? Is being an atypical activist a brake or, on the contrary, a resource to be appointed to eligible positions by the parties' leaderships? What kind of relations to the voters are being developed? Is there a specific way of campaigning? In what measure can the differences become a resource or remain disqualifying (« diversity » candidates, young people, women...)? Are atypical candidates more numerous in some countries? Is it a legal obligation for parties (ethnic quotas, gender parity...)? How to define « atypical » militants? Can we observe differences between different political parties, countries and throughout the years? Can atypical agents hope to reach the most desired positions in their parties? Can a typical profile become atypical or, on the contrary, an atypical profile become typical? Finally, how to explain the fact for the atypical activist to leave his party? Is it an atypical social fact, or a simple return to « normal »? The communications based on an empirical work will be privileged. The comparisons between periods, between parties and/or between countries are deeply encouraged.

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