A political party is composed of people who group together to run as candidates during elections and strive to be elected to government positions. These people often agree on the same set of principles and have the same views as to which policies and programs will be good for their people. Each country has its own type of political party system; the United States, for example, has a two-party system, while other countries have multiple parties. Certain nations, like China, Cuba, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, have one-party systems.
Many see political parties as a good way to organize a country’s political system and make elections smoother, but lots of people also consider them to be detrimental. To decide which side is correct, read on to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of having political parties.
List of Pros of Political Parties
1. They can help choose the right political candidates.
Political parties have many functions, and one of these is to choose candidates that are worthy to run for office. Through this process, they can prevent unqualified people from joining the elections and ensure that only those who have the right skills, education, and experience can be elected to public office. Many political parties also take young and new politicians under their wing and provide them with training and guidance to become better and more knowledgeable public officials.
2. They can mediate between the citizens and the government.
Political parties can provide a sort of check-and-balance in the government. They listen to and understand the needs of the citizens, and they ensure that legislators who belong to their party will know about the plight of the people. They can also help in educating the public about the country’s political and electoral system and ensuring they understand how and why they elect their government officials.
3. They can encourage citizens to participate in political affairs.
Many people become interested in politics when they hear about a political party that has they same beliefs and principles as they do and offers a good solution to some of the country’s problems. This can encourage them to become more active in expressing their opinions and choosing the right leaders for the nation.
List of Cons of Political Parties
1. They can separate the country into different factions.
Ideally, political parties present their ideas and principles in a firm but courteous way. In real life, however, they can turn to giving anger-filled speeches and painting other parties in negative light, which can fuel hate and animosity between their supporters.
2. They can hurt politicians’ individuality.
When politicians belong to a certain party, they often have no choice but to abide by its principles and ideologies. As a result, they don’t have the chance to express their opinions, particularly if these differ from what their party believes. If they do, they may find themselves getting kicked out from the group.
3. They can pave the way to corruption and bad governance.
Some political parties resort to buying people’s votes, while others make empty promises to the citizens just to get into office. Still others prioritize the interest of those who gave large amounts of money to their campaigns instead of doing things for the good of the people.
Conclusion
Political parties offer both benefits and drawbacks, so it’s up to both politicians and citizens to ensure that they won’t damage the country’s government.
Crystal Lombardo is a contributing editor for Vision Launch. Crystal is a seasoned writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience. She has been an editor of three popular blogs that each have had over 500,000 monthly readers.
