Party Organization and Electoral Success of New Anti-establishment Parties

This book examines the new anti-establishment parties electorally succeeding at the expense of their established counterparts and argues that party organization matters for the electoral success of anti-establishment parties. It explores a relationship between these parties ́ electoral success and their party organization. Using a framework to explain the role of organizational features such as local party branches, party membership, and party elites in this process, it reveals how they help parties to be more stable, cohesive, and legitimate; a state that facilitates better conditions for electoral success. It also shows that control over party organization is achieved partially by the existence of a corporate network associated with party leaders ́ businesses. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of party politics and political parties, anti-establishment politics, and Eastern European politics. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Appendices Abstract Acknowledgements List of Acronyms Introduction 0.1. Failed Newcomers to Czech Party System 0.2. The Story of ANO’s Electoral Success 0.3. ANO’s Electoral Success as Part of Wider Phenomenon 0.4. Role of Party Organization in Electoral Success 0.5. Plan of the Book 1. Local Party Organization 1.1. Introduction 1.2. The Role of Local Party Organization in the Electoral Success 1.3. Methodological Approach 1.4. Empirical Analysis 1.4.1. Local Organizational Density 1.4.2. Local Organizational Density by Municipalities 1.4.3. Local Organizational Density per Number of Eligible Voters 1.4.4. Local Organizational Autonomy 1.5. Discussion and Conclusions 2. Party Membership 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Role of Membership in the Electoral Success 2.3. Methodological Approach 2.4. Empirical Analysis 2.4.1. Traditional Individual Membership – Size 2.4.2. Restrictions on Traditional Individual Membership 2.4.3. Number of Traditional Individual Members and Electoral Success 2.4.4. Light Membership – Party Sympathizers 2.4.5. Party Sympathizers’ Rights and Obligations 2.4.6. Social Media Followers/Friends 2.5. Discussion and Conclusions 3. Party Elite 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Role of Party Elites in Electoral Success 3.3. Methodological Approach 3.4. Empirical Analysis 3.4.1. Career Backgrounds and Political Experience of ANO’s Elite 3.4.2. Professional Links between Elites 3.4.3. Homogenous Party Elite and ANO as Cohesive Party 3.4.4. ANO’s Positive Public Image Stemming from Party Cohesion 3.5. Discussion and Conclusions 4. Organization of Anti-establishment Parties: A Comparative Perspective 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Role of Party Organizational Features in Electoral Success 4.3. Different Party Organization Models 4.4. Anti-establishment Parties in Europe: A Case Selection 4.5. Background of TS, OL'aNO, and FI 4.6. Methodological Approach 4.7. Empirical Analysis 4.7.1. Local Party Organization 4.7.2. Party Membership 4.7.3. Party Elite 4.8. Discussion and Conclusions Conclusion C.1. Cohesive, Stable, and Legitimate Party as a Formula for Electoral Success C.2. General Outcome of the Research C.3. Directions for Further Research C.4. Concluding Discussion about the Role of Political Entrepreneurs in Czech Politics End matter E.1. Interviews E.2. Appendices E.3. Curriculum Vitae Index This book examines the new anti-establishment parties electorally succeeding at the expense of their established counterparts and argues that party organization matters for their electoral success. It explores a relationship between these parties' electoral success and their party organization. Using a framework to explain the role of organizational features such as local party branches, party membership, and party elites in this process, it reveals how they help parties to be more stable, cohesive, and legitimate; a state that facilitates better conditions for electoral success. It also shows that control over party organization is achieved partially by the existence of a corporate network associated with party leaders' businesses. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of party politics and political parties, anti-establishment politics, and Eastern European politics.