chapter  8
Governance Without Party Systems
Pages 12

Why do countries have party systems? In his well-known book Why Parties? John Aldrich asks that simple question.1 He concludes that politicians form political parties to solve three fundamental problems: how to regulate the number of people seeking public office, how to mobilize voters, and how to achieve and maintain the majorities needed to accomplish goals once in office. By joining together in organized political parties, those with political ambitions solve these problems of collective action.