Factional Politics

Factionalism and internal division is a cross that virtually all dominant political parties operating in representative democracies have to bear. In this book, Dr Boucek seeks to explain how this inherent factionalism that has caused the downfall of many political leaders can also prolong office tenure by containing conflict and preventing the exit of party dissidents. By surveying the British Conservative Party, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Christian Democratic Party of Italy and the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, Dr Boucek explores this paradox and the potential dangers factional politics can create for dominant political parties through bad governance, brand devaluation and the failure to manage internal conflict. Factional Politics is essential reading for students and scholars of political parties and party systems, parliaments and democracy as well as intra-party politics.