"A Theoretical Reflection on the Relationship Between Power Structure and the Stability/Instability of Political Parties
Subject Areas : Research in Theoritical Politics
moslem khosravi zargaz
1
,
Vahid sinaee
2
1 - Ph.D. Student in Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashad, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashad, Iran.
Keywords: Power Structure, Authoritarianism, Democratic, , semi-authoritarianism, political party.,
Abstract :
Comparative Analysis of the Relationship between Power Structures and the Stability/Instability of Political Parties in Authoritarian, Democratic, and Semi-Authoritarian Systems
Moslem Khosravy Zargaz*
Vahid Sinaee**
Political parties, as intermediary institutions between the state and society, play a fundamental role in strengthening democratic processes and enhancing the efficiency of governance. However, the durability and stability of these parties are directly influenced by the structural characteristics of power within different political regimes. The present study adopts a comparative approach to examine the relationship between the structure of political power and the stability or instability of political parties.
The central research question is: Why do political parties remain stable in some regimes while persisting instability characterizes others? In response, the study hypothesizes that the constituent elements of power structures—including the nature of political authority, the mode of power distribution and participation, the separation of powers, and the role of informal institutions—function as key determinants of party stability or instability across democratic, authoritarian, and semi-authoritarian regimes.
The findings indicate that, within democratic structures, despite organizational weaknesses and socio-economic pressures, conditions exist that facilitate party continuity and stability. In contrast, in authoritarian structures, the concentration of power and the suppression of political competition result in the establishment of state-dominated single-party systems and the decline of alternative parties. Semi-authoritarian regimes, which ostensibly employ democratic mechanisms but operate in practice with authoritarian tendencies, exhibit shorter party life cycles and reduced overall party stability.
Keywords: Power Structure, Authoritarianism, Democratic, , semi-authoritarianism, political party.
Introduction
Political parties, as intermediary institutions between the state and society, play a vital role in consolidating democracy, aggregating interests, and enhancing governance efficiency. However, their durability and performance are heavily influenced by the prevailing institutional environment and the structure of power. A review of the literature indicates that while prior studies have emphasized sociological, economic, and legal factors in party instability, the systematic role of the “structure of power” as an independent variable has received relatively little attention. This study addresses this theoretical gap by proposing an analytical framework based on the “structure of power,” defined along two dimensions: the mechanism of power transfer (competitive versus monopolized) and the quality of power distribution (centralized versus decentralized), which manifest across three ideal-typical regime forms: democratic, authoritarian, and semi-authoritarian.
Research Findings
In authoritarian structures, the concentration of power, suppression of political competition, and dominance of informal and security institutions render party independence and stability virtually impossible. Parties in such contexts are either entirely eliminated or transformed into instruments for regime legitimation and the distribution of rents. Dependence on individual leadership, weak social bases, lack of broad organizational capacity, and the threat of judicial-security dissolution shorten party life cycles and make them entirely contingent on the central power nucleus.
In contrast, democratic structures, by providing an institutional environment composed of transparent electoral laws, free media, separation of powers, and independent oversight bodies, enable healthy competition and the institutionalization of parties. Party stability in this context arises from responsiveness to public demands, programmatic consistency, and internal cohesion. Nevertheless, these structures are not immune to instability. Factors such as personalized politics (charismatic dependency), ideological polarization, internal corruption, and inability to respond to socio-economic crises can lead to party decline or replacement. Crucially, however, such instability occurs within the legal framework and through electoral competition, allowing the system to reproduce and reform party institutions.
Semi-authoritarian structures create a complex and dualistic environment. These regimes maintain the formal appearance of democracy (e.g., elections and multiparty systems) while employing undemocratic tools—media control, electoral engineering, and legal and financial restrictions—that severely constrain competition. In this context, ruling parties or “loyal pseudo-opposition” parties are strengthened, whereas independent opposition parties are marginalized, weakened, and isolated. The absence of genuine competition, systemic inequalities in resource access, and widespread public distrust prevent even permitted parties from playing effective representative roles, thereby undermining institutional stability. Party life cycles are shorter and highly dependent on developments within the inner circles of power.
Conclusion
In conclusion, political party stability is neither accidental nor incidental but a direct and systematic outcome of power structure design. Democratic structures, by creating competitive impulses and opportunities for reform, provide the conditions for party dynamism and relative longevity. Conversely, authoritarian and semi-authoritarian structures, through mechanisms of monopoly, control, and exclusion, inherently generate party instability. This study demonstrates that any effort to strengthen party systems and consolidate democracy requires fundamental attention to reforming power structures toward a competitive, decentralized, and accountable framework.
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* Ph.D. Student in Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashad, Iran.
0009-0009-1086-4957
** Corresponding Author: Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashad, Iran.
sinaee@um.ac.ir
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Gray, J. (2016, February 13) The role of political parties in Putin’s hybrid-regime. E-International Relations. https://www.e-ir.info/2016/02/13/the-role-of-political-parties-in-putins-hybrid-regime.
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https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54949-6.
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Pildes, R. H. (2002) Constitutionalizing democratic politics (Public Law and Legal Theory Working Paper Series, No. 44). New York University School of Law. https://ssrn.com/abstract=317800 .
Pinto, António Costa. (2002) Elites, single parties and political decision-making in fascist-era dictatorships. Contemporary European History, 11(3), 429–454. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960777302003053.
Przeworski, A. (1991) Democracy and the market: Political and economic reforms in Eastern Europe and Latin America. Cambridge University Press.
Reuter, O. J. (2021) Why do ruling parties extend authoritarian rule? Examining the role of elite institutions and mass organization (V-Dem Working Paper Series 2021:118). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg. https://www.v-dem.net/media/publications/wp_118_final.pdf .
Rye, D. (2015) Political parties and power: A new framework for analysis. PoliticalStudies,63(5),1052–1069.https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9248.12158.
Sondrol, P. C. (2007) Paraguay: A semi-authoritarian regime? Armed Forces & Society, 34(1), 46–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X06295513.
World Scientific. (2025) Authoritarian party systems. World Scientific. Retrieved April 10, 2025, from https://www.worldscientific.com .
Zahirinejad, M. (2016) Hybrid regime and rentier state: Democracy or authoritarianism in Iran? Hemispheres: Studies on Cultures and Societies, 31(4), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.15804/hso160402.
