Revisiting the Roots in Society: Opposition Party Institutionalisation and the Fate of ‘Third Wave’ Democratic Development

Many democratic projects have been challenged in recent times and live through various forms of regression and even breakdown. Competition between political parties has been challenged as a source of discord and blockages. In many Third Wave democratisation projects, opposition parties have remained weak, unstable and instruments of their respective party leadership. They have often been conceived as non-caring and invisible between electoral campaigns. On the other hand, electoral turnovers in national elections, as well as opposition victories in sub-national polls, continue to shape the political life in many societies holding multiparty elections.
Generally, the sub-national level has received little attention despite the massive increase in relevant municipal elections, whereas power transfers to regional entities are primarily based on government interactions. Institutionalised political parties with strong roots in society should be expected to have strong local relations, including with civil society organisations, whereas a strong influence and momentum – if any – in regional integration processes have remained unlikely – particularly for opposition parties.
Hence, what is the future of political parties in ‘Third Wave’ democratic development? Has the age of party institutionalisation come to an end? Is the concept of institutionalised opposition parties that provide reliable alternatives failing? Are more fluid forms of political organisations taking over? Do regional integration processes weaken the chances for opposition party institutionalisation? If so, under what conditions do opposition parties grow at the sub-national and national levels?
This panel welcomes conceptual and empirical papers focusing on 'Third Wave' electoral democracies that analyse the roots of (opposition) parties in society, preferably civil society relations and at the sub-national level.