The limits of organizational innovation and multi-speed membership: Podemos and its new forms of party membership

Abstract

The increasing introduction of organizational innovations has changed the notion of party membership. Some political parties now offer multiple kinds of formal affiliation, whereas others offer a varied repertoire of modes of engagement in party activities without formal membership distinctions. However, little is still known about the consequences of these changes. This article studies the case of Podemos, a party that has adopted a considerably innovative approach to membership. Through an analysis of Podemos voters and affiliates, we find that the gap in resources between members and voters recurrently found in the literature remains relevant despite organizational innovation. Moreover, we investigate how members make use of the expanded options of involvement offered by the party. Findings suggest that even in extreme cases of organizational innovation members can still be grouped into concentric categories based on the intensity of their involvement. These categories, which are consistent with the patterns found in traditional party organizations, seem to be explained by members’ ideological commitment rather than resources.