Mass-based party
Also called: Mass party · Topic: Political Parties, Party Systems and Anti-defection · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A mass-based party tries to build a very large membership drawn from many social groups. It reaches people through a wide organisation that spreads down to the local level, and through campaigns. Its strength comes from numbers and broad support, not from a small trained core. Maurice Duverger described this type in 1951.
Example
A party that runs membership drives in villages and towns across the country, and enrols farmers, workers, traders and students alike, is working as a mass-based party.
Don't confuse with
- Cadre-based party: it depends on a small, disciplined group of members trained in its ideology. A mass-based party depends on wide membership.