The typology of political parties makes it possible to comprehend their role in public life and politics in general.
In modern political science, division based on class and social foundations has become widespread. According to this criterion, the following batches are distinguished:
1. Class. In many states, there are those parties that advocate for the interests of a class or layer of the population.
2. Those that represent several classes or social groups. For example, in Denmark, conservative populists defend the demands of industrial and financial capital, as well as the interests of landowners and nobles.
3. Parties of individual social strata or groups.
The modern typology of political parties was developed in the mid-20th century by the French political scientist Maurice Duverger. He singled out the so-called binary classification, in which cadre and mass parties are noted. The basis of this principle is the type of relations between the population with the party, as well as the internal structure.
In addition to these, there are several more classifications that are popular in the modern world. So, among them are the following:
1. The typology of political parties in terms of ideology, according to which there is a classification of right, left and centrists.
2. Separation according to the nature of the activity, as well as the content of goals and objectives. There are four types of such parties: revolutionary, conservative, reactionary and reformist.
3. Differentiation according to place in state power: ruling and opposition.
4. Types of parties according to the conditions of activity: legal, semi-legal and illegal.
There is also a division into authoritarian and democratic, secular and religious, etc.
At one time, an American sociologist developed a classification of political parties, which also received worldwide recognition. He separated them according to functional and organizational criteria. As a result, the types of political parties were distinguished as follows:
1. Belonging to the vanguard type, which stood out during the development of the labor movement. The political scientist believed that if such a species gained power, it would quickly succumb to the influence of the bureaucracy and become part of the administrative system.
2. Election parties. Their mission is election campaigns. As a rule, membership in such parties is not fixed, and party tickets are not issued and no fees are collected. The financial resource is based on voluntary donations from individuals, companies and any organizations, as well as on deductions from the state budget.
3. Parliamentary parties. If we consider their functionality, it is similar to election parties. But their tasks are more diverse and encompass the mechanism of parliamentary activity: the development of principles for the conduct of the election campaign, the study of public opinion regarding the living standards of the population and its various spheres, as well as the selection of appropriate candidates and their preparation for the election race.
4. Party-communities (clubs). They are mass organizations in which citizens are united with common cultural needs and views, and only then with similar political preferences.
5. “Pocket” parties. They are small in number of members. They are created by failed leaders and orient them to their program in order to realize selfish aspirations and the desire to establish themselves. Party leaders themselves determine the line of its behavior and enjoy unlimited influence.
Note that any typology of political parties presented does not exclude another, and cases of their combination are frequent, which becomes an excellent basis for analyzing their activities.