This paper examines the changing nature of the connection between citizens, party members and elites in the creation of party policy and its subsequent adoption and implementation in both legislative and governmental arenas. Theoretically, the paper develops a new model of policy transferal that is not built upon the mass-party model of parliamentary politics, but rather upon the organizational evolutions now evident in many parties across the world; emphasizing the individuality of policy-making and accountability, promoting new technologies for facilitating decision-making (particularly through online communications), and attempting to engage with a new style of politically active citizen. The paper will present a series of comparative case studies of these processes from political parties in Australia and the UK, which highlight some of the tensions inherent for parties as centres of policy participation, responsiveness and accountability.
