Political Parties Act as a Platform for Interest Articulation: A Critical Analysis of the concept of Representation.

Abstract

Any critical evaluation of how political parties behave requires a firm support of the conceptual analysis of the concept of Representation. The concept of Representation, in modern times has gained immense popularity, provided the fact that every social or political group wants to be represented or every other government and governmental institution claims to be representative. This modern day popularity of the concept of representation can be accorded to its being coupled with the ideals of Democracy, Justice, Liberty and Equality. The institutions embodying some form of Representation can be a part and parcel of any large and well- articulated society which need not be a popular self- government only. This serves as a precursor to the research of this merit; which in turn tries to look at political parties as an instrument of interest articulation. Political party thus acts as an illustration of political life and at the same time as a medium for its growth. They fill the large void which is otherwise so evident in any political system. Countries with a highly developed party system provide its citizens the platform for fulfilling their duties and act as a medium for imparting education to its citizens. Despite much importance the area has been much less researched upon and almost neglected by political scientists.