ABSTRACT
The political party is the most common type of political organization, acting as a linkage institution or organization that links society to the government. Political parties are at the heart of electoral system. Political parties, interest associations, and social movements are all similar in that they seek to link certain people and their preferences and interests with government, seeking to influence some policy change. Democracy is slowly arriving in Middle East, mainly through competition of political parties, particularly Islamist parties. Democracy, a political system that embraces competition, political participation, and civil and political rights and freedoms, is still fledgling in many Middle Eastern states. Yet, the middle ground between full-fledged democracy and dictatorships is actually the most common political condition in developing states including Middle East. Many argue that the lack of progress with democratization of the Middle East is because of regressive and authoritarian character of Islam or even due to the political and socio-economic backwardness of these countries.
