faction
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A faction is a group of people acting together within a larger group, often with shared interests or goals. In politics, factions can be informal groups or organized political parties. Historically, factions were often viewed as a danger to democracies and republics because their interests could conflict with the general good of the community.12
However, in representative democracies, political parties have become necessary for selecting candidates, organizing parliamentary support, and enabling the majority to prevail. The existence of independent and competitive political parties is now considered a standard for democratic governance. Voter choices are influenced by party identification, campaign events, issues, and candidate competence, with independent voters often playing a decisive role in elections.23
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democracyFactions and partiesIn many of the city-state democracies and republics, part of the answer to question 3—What political institutions are necessary for governing?—consisted of “factions,” including both informal groups and organized political parties. Much later, representative democracies in several countries developed political parties for…
Read MoreIn many of the city-state democracies and republics, part of the answer to question 3—What political institutions are necessary for governing?—consisted of “factions,” including both informal groups and organized political parties. Much later, representative democracies in several countries developed political parties for…
Read More- democracyHume
…have acquired a view about factions that turned the issue of the desirability of larger political associations—i.e., those larger than the city-state—on its head. For the purpose of diminishing the destructive potential of factionalism, so Hume and Madison argued, bigger is in fact better, because in bigger associations each representative…
Read More…have acquired a view about factions that turned the issue of the desirability of larger political associations—i.e., those larger than the city-state—on its head. For the purpose of diminishing the destructive potential of factionalism, so Hume and Madison argued, bigger is in fact better, because in bigger associations each representative…
Read More