Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Challenges and Perspectives in the Study of Political Financing

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Political Party Funding and Private Donations in Italy

Part of the book series: Interest Groups, Advocacy and Democracy Series ((IGAD))

  • 94 Accesses

Abstract

Democratic party transformations are a central topic of research in contemporary political science. The deterioration of the mass party model has raised many concerns about the evolution and prospects of democratic participation. The goal of this chapter is to show how the current discussion on party organisation is from a particular point of view: funding the political campaigns. From this vantage point, the organisational dynamics of the party, as well as its representational objective, are a function of financial capital. Additionally, the financial framework enables an examination of the party’s links to civil society representatives and their specific interests.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    See for instance Allern (2010), or the special issue of Party Politics, 2012, 18(7).

References

  • Aarts, K. (1995). Intermediate Organizations and Interest Representation. In H. D. Klingeman & D. Fuchs (Eds.), Citizens and the State. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, H. E. (Ed.). (1989). Comparative Political Finance in the 1980s. Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, H. E. (1992). Financing Politics: Money, Elections, and Political Reforms. Congressional Quarterly Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allern, E., & Bale, T. (2012). Political Parties and Interest Groups: Disentangling Complex Relationships. Party Politics (Special Issue), 18(7), 7–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allern, E. H. (2010). Political Parties and Interest Groups in Norway. ECPR Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allern, E. H., Otjes, S., Poguntke, T., Hansen, V. W., Saurugger, S., & Marshall, D. (2020, September). Conceptualizing and measuring party-interest group relationships. Party Politics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allern, E. H., & Verge, T. (2017). Still Connecting with Society? Political Parties’ Formal Links with Social Groups in the Twenty-First Century. In S. Scarrow, T. Pogutnke, & P. Webb (Eds.), Organizing Political Parties. Representation, Participation, and Power. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Almond, G., & Powell, G. (1966). Comparative Politics: A Developmental Approach. Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Almond, G. A., Powell, G. B., & Mundt, R. (1993). Comparative Politics: A Theoretical Approach. Harper Collins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumgartener, F. R., & Leech, B. L. (1998). Basic Interests: The Importance of Groups in Politics and in Political Science. Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bellucci, P., Maraffi, M., & Segatti, P. (2007). Intermediation Through Secondary Associations: The Organizational Context of Electoral Behaviour. In R. Gunther, J. R. Montero, & H.-J. Puhle (Eds.), Democracy, Intermediation and Voting in Four Continents. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentley, A. (1908). The Process of Government: A Study of Social Pressures. University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkhout, J., Hanegraaff, M., & Statsch, P. (2021). Explaining the Patterns of Contacts between Interest Groups and Political Parties: Revising the Standard Model for Populist Times. Party Politics, 27(3), 418–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berry, J. (1984). The Interest Group Society. Little, Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berry, M. J. (1977). Lobbying for the People: The Political Behavior of Public Interest Groups. Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beyers, J., Eising, R., & Maloney, W. (2008). Researching Interest Group Politics in Europe and Elsewhere: Much We Study, Little We Know? West European Politics, 31(6), 1103–1128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binderkrantz, A. (2008). Different Groups, Different Strategies: How Interest Groups Pursue Their Political Ambitions. Scandinavian Political Studies, 31, 173–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binderkrantz, A. (2015). Balancing Gains and Hazards: Interest Groups in Electoral Politics. Interest Groups & Advocacy, 4, 120–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binderkrantz, A. S. (2012). Interest Groups in the Media: Bias and Diversity Over Time. European Journal of Political Research, 51, 117–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boatright, R. G. (2018). Party funding in the United States. In J. Mendilow & E. Phélippeau (Eds.), Handbook of Political Party Funding. Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth, E., & Robbins, J. (2010). Assessing the Impact of Campaign Finance on Party System Institutionalization. Party Politics, 16(5), 629–650.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosso, C. (1987). Pesticides and Politics: the Life Cycle of a Public Issue. University of Pittsburgh Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Budge, I., Robertson, D., & Hearl, D. J. (1987). Ideology, Strategy and Party Movement. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Carmines, E., & Stimson, J. (1986). On the Structure and Sequence of Issue Evolution. American Political Science Review, 80(3), 901–920.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casal Bértoa, F., & Spirova, M. (2019). Parties between Thresholds: State Subsidies and Party Behaviour in Post-communist Democracies. Party Politics, 25(2), 233–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casas-Zamora, K. (2005). Paying for Democracy: Political Finance and State Funding for Parties. ECPR Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, G. W. (1997). Making Votes Count. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, C. (1993). Industrial Relations and European State Traditions. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crum, B. (2018). Parliamentary Accountability in Multilevel Governance: What Role for Parliaments in Post-crisis EU Economic Governance? Journal of European Public Policy, 25(2), 268–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, R. A. (1961). Who Governs? Democracy and Power in an American City. Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, R. A. (1971). Poliarchy. Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalton, R. J. (2002). The Decline of party Identification. In R. J. Dalton & M. P. Wattenberg (Eds.), Parties Without Partisans: Political Change in Advanced Industrial Democracies. Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dunleavy, P., & Husbands, C. (1985). British Democracy at the Crossroads. Allen&Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duverger, M. (1972). Party Politics and Pressure Groups: A Comparative Introduction. Thomas Y. Crowell Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Easton, D. (1965). A Framework for Political Analysis. Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enroth, H. (2015). Cartelization versus representation? On a misconception in contemporary party theory. Party Politics, 32(2), 124–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, G., & Norris, P. (1999). Critical Elections. British Parties and Voters in Long-term Perspective. Sage Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, D., & Schmitt-Beck, R. (2008). Electoral Politics: The Role of Interest Groups and Independent Citizens in Contemporary Election Campaigns. Nomos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, D. M. (2006). Political Parties in a Changing Campaign Environment. In R. Katz & W. Crotty (Eds.), Handbook of Party Politics. SAGE Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, J., & Eisenstadt, T. A. (2004). Introduction: Comparative Party Finance. What Is to Be Done? Party Politics, 10(6), 619–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, M. (1985). The Decline of Class Voting in Britain: Changes in the Basis of Electoral Choice 1964–1983. Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, M., Mackie, T., & Valen, H. (1992). Electoral Change: Reponses to Evolving Social and Attitudinal Structures in Western Nations. ECPR Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraussen, B., & Halpin, D. R. (2018). Political Parties and Interest Organizations at the Crossroads: Perspectives on the Transformation of Political Organizations. Political Studies Review, 16(1), 25–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, W. (2005). Pressure Politics: A Politics of Collective Consumption. Parliamentary Affairs, 58(2), 366–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green-Pedersen, C. (2007). The Growing Importance of Issue Competition: The Changing Nature of Party Competition in Western Europe. Political Studies, 55(3), 607–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunther, R., Montero, J. R., & Puhle, H. J. (2007). Democracy, Intermediation and Voting in Four Continents. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Heaney, M. T. (2010). Linking Political Parties and Interest Groups. In L. S. Maisel & J. M. Berry (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of American Political Parties and Interest Groups. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heard, A. (1960). The Costs of Democracy. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkin, J. (2004). The Problem with Party Finance: Theoretical Perspective on the Funding of Party Politics. Party Politics, 10(6), 627–651.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ignazi, P. (1996). The Crisis of Parties and the Rise of New Political Parties. Party Politics, 2(4), 549–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ignazi, P. (2017). Party and Democracy: The Uneven Road to Party Democracy. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R. (1990). Culture Shift in Advanced Industrial Society. Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Iversen, T. (2005). Capitalism, Democracy, and Welfare. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, R., & Mair, P. (1995). Changing Models of Party Organization and Party Democracy. The Emergence of the Cartel Party. Party Politics, 1(1), 5–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Key, V. O. (1942). Politics, Parties and Pressure Groups. Crowell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirchheimer, O. (1966). The Transformation of Western European Party System. In W. LaPalombara (Ed.), Political Parties and Political Development. Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitschelt, H. (1994). The Transformation of European Social Democracy. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kitschelt, H. (2000). Citizens, Politicians, and Party Cartelization: Political Representation and State Failure in Post-industrial Societies. European Journal of Political Research, 37(2), 149–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koß, M. (2011). The Politics of Party Funding. State Funding to Political Parties and Party Competition in Western Europe. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, K. (1980). Political Parties and Linkage. In K. Lawson (Ed.), Political Parties and Linkage. A Comparative Perspective. Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehmbruch, G. (1977). Liberal Corporatism and Party Government. Comparative Political Studies, 10(1), 91–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmbruch, G., & Schmitter, P. (Eds.). (1982). Patterns of Corporatist Policy-Making. Sage Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipset, S. M., & Rokkan, S. (1967). Party Systems and Voter Alignments: Cross-National Perspectives. Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisi, M., & Oliveira, R. (2020). Standing Alone? Towards a More Unified View of Party–Group Relations in Contemporary Democracies. European Review, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowi, T. (1969). The End of Liberalism: The Second Republic of the United States. W.W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney, C., & Baumgartner, F. (2008). Converging Perspective on Interest Group Research in Europe and America. West European Politics, 31(6), 1253–1273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mair, P. (2002). In The Aggregate: Mass Electoral Behaviour in Western Europe 1950–2000. In H. Kenam (Ed.), Comparative Democratic Politics. Sage Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mair, P. (2013). Ruling the Void: The Hollowing of Western Democracy. Verso.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mair, P., & Mudde, C. (1998). The Party Family and Its Study. Annual Review of Political Science., 1, 211–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mair, P., & van Biezen, I. (2001). Party Membership in Twenty European Democracies 1980–2000. Party Politics, 7(1), 5–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • March, G. J., & Olsen, J. P. (1984). The New Institutionalism: Organizational Factors in Political Life. The American Political Science Review, 78(3), 734–749.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMenamin, I. (2012). If Money Talk, What Does It Say? Varieties of Capitalism and Business Financing of Parties. World Politics, 64(1), 1–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMenamin, I. (2013). If Money Talks, What Does It Say?: Corruption and Business Financing of Political Parties. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Melchionda, E. (1997). Il Finanziamento della Politica. Editori Riuniti.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morlino, L. (1998). Democracy between Consolidation and Crisis: Parties, Groups and Citizens in Southern Europe. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, W. C., & Strøm, K. (Eds.). (1999). Policy, Office, Or Votes?: How Political Parties in Western Europe Make Hard Decisions. Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, G. (2012). Influencing Political Decision-Making: Interest Groups and Elections in Independent Ireland. Irish Political Studies, 25(4), 563–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nassmacher, K. H. (2003). Party Funding in Continental Western Europe. In R. Austin & R. Tjernstroom (Eds.), Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns. International IDEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nassmacher, K. H. (2009). The Funding of Party Competition. Political Finance in 25 Democracies. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Norris, P. (2000). A Virtuous Circle: Political Communications in Post-industrial Societies. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Norris, P., & van Es, A. A. (2016). Checkbook Elections?: Political Finance in Comparative Perspective. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Olson, M. (1965). The Logic of Collective Action. Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panebianco, A. (1982). Modelli di partito. Organizzazione e potere nei partiti politici. il Mulino. (Trad. Eng.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pharr, S. J., Putnam, R. D., & Dalton, R. J. (2000). A Quarter Century of Declining Confidence. Journal of Democracy, 11(2), 5–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pierre, J., & Svåsand L. (1992). The Parties and the State: Money, Members, and Managers. ECPR Conference. University of Limerick.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierre, J., Svåsand, L., & Widfeldt, A. (2000). State Subsidies to Political Parties: Confronting Rhetoric with Reality. West European Politics, 23(3), 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto-Duschinsky, M. (2002). Financing Politics: A Global View. Journal of Democracy, 13(4), 69–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pitkin, H. F. (1967). The Concept of Representation. University of California Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pizzorno, A. (1980). I soggetti del pluralismo. il Mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Przeworski, A. (1985). Capitalism and Social Democracy. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Raniolo, F. (2013). I Partiti Politici. Laterza.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salisbury, R. H. (1975). Interest Groups. In F. I. Greenstein & N. W. Polsby (Eds.), Nongovernmental Politics Handbook of Political Science (Vol. 4). Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartori, G. (1969). From the Sociology of Politics to Political Sociology. In S. M. Lipset (Ed.), Politics and the Social Sciences. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartori, G. (1976). Parties and Party System. A Framework for Analysis. Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarrow, S. (2002). Parties Without Members? Party Organization in a Changing Electoral Environment. In R. J. Dalton & M. P. Wattenberg (Eds.), Parties Without Partisans: Political Change in Advanced Industrial Democracies. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarrow, S. (2004). Explaining Political Finance Reforms. Competition and Context. Party Politics, 10(6), 653–675.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarrow, S. (2006). Party Subsides and the Freezing of Party Competition: Do Cartel Mechanisms Work? West European Politics, 29(4), 619–639.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarrow, S. E., Webb, P. D., & Poguntke, T. (Eds.). (2017). Organizing Political Parties: Representation, Participation, and Power. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schattschneider, E. E. (1942). Party Government. Rinehart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schattschneider, E. E. (1948). Pressure Groups versus Political Parties. Annals of American Academy of Political Science and Social Science, 259, 17–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schattschneider, E. E. (1960). The Semisovereign People: A Realist View of Democracy in America. Holt, Rinehart and Wiston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlozman, K. L. (2010). Who Sings in the Heavenly Chorus? The Shape of Organized Interest System. In L. Maisel & S. Berry (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of American Political Parties and Interest Groups. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitter, P. (2001). Parties Are Not What They Once Were. In L. Diamond & R. Gunther (Eds.), Political Parties and Democracy. Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, M. A. (2005). Linkage Processes in Party Networks. In A. Römmele, D. Farrell, & P. Ignazi (Eds.), Political Parties and Political Systems. The Concept of Linkage Revisited. Greenwood Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorauf, F. J. (1988). Money in American Elections. Scott, Foresman and Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soskice, D. (1999). Divergent Production regimes: Percent and Unpercent Market Economies in the 1980s and the 1990s. In H. Kitshelt, P. Lange, G. Marks, & J. Stephens (Eds.), Continuity and Change in Contemporary Capitalism. Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, C. (Ed.). (2001). Political Parties and Interest Groups. Lynne Rienner Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, C., & Hrebenar, R. (1999). Interest Groups in the States. In V. H. Gray, R. L. Hanson, & Joacop (Eds.), Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis (7th ed.). CQ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, D. B. (1951). The Governmental Process. Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Biezen, I. (2003). Political Parties in New Democracies, Party Organization in Southern and East-Central Europe. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Van Biezen, I. (2004). Political Parties as Public Utilities. Party Politics, 10(6), 701–722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Biezen, I. (2010). Campaign and Party Finance. In L. LeDuc, R. G. Niemi, & P. Norris (Eds.), Comparing Democracies: Elections and Voting in Global Perspective. Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Biezen, I., & Poguntke, T. (2014). The Decline of Membership-Based Politics. Party Politics, 20(2), 205–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Deth, J. (1997). Private Groups and Public Life. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verge, T. (2013). Party Strategies on Territorial Reform: State-Wide Parties and the State of Autonomies in Spain. West European Politics, 36, 317–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Beyme, K. (1985). Political Parties in Western Democracies. Gower.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessels, B. (1996). System of Economic Interest Groups and Socio-Economic Performance. Paper presented at the 1966 Annual Meeting of American Political Science Association, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessels, B. (1997). Interest Groups and Political Representation in Europe. Paper presented at the Joint Session of Workshops of the ECPR, Bern.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteley, P. F. (2011). Is the Party Over? The Decline of Party Activism and Membership Across the Democratic World. Party Politics, 17(1), 21–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. K. (1990). Interest Groups. Basil Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, J. (1990). Contributions, Lobbying and Committee Voting in U.S. House of Representatives. American Political Science Review, 84, 417–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yishai, Y. (1991). The Land of Paradoxes: Interest Politics in Israel. State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zovatto, D. (2003). The Legal and Practical Characteristcs of the Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns in Latin America. In R. Austin & M. Tjernström (Eds.), Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns. International IDEA.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Chiara Fiorelli

Authors
  1. Chiara Fiorelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chiara Fiorelli .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Fiorelli, C. (2021). Challenges and Perspectives in the Study of Political Financing. In: Political Party Funding and Private Donations in Italy. Interest Groups, Advocacy and Democracy Series. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73869-3_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation