Associations, party models and party system: Changing patterns of party networks in twentieth century France

Abstract

Mainly because the French parties in the twentieth century were weakly organized, their history does not fit well with any of the established schemas of party development. This paper seeks to understand their particular path by connecting it to the changing patterns of the country's associational life. Four different party models, based on types of associational network, are proposed. The paper then traces back how each type of party network emerged and gave rise to the corresponding party model with specific internal structures (discipline and leader–follower relations). We also discuss the impacts of these different associational (party) models on the functioning of the party system. Indeed, some of the major political crises in the twentieth century can be better understood with these impacts in mind.