ABSTRACT
Factionalism within political parties is generally viewed by both party insiders and external observers as a problem, and more specifically as an obstacle to effective party functioning and representation. When internal party divisions and differences do exist, the party leadership often tries to deny or conceal them, and commentators and opponents alike seize upon news of internal competition as evidence of party weakness and possible collapse. This paper offers an alternative perspective that defends the need to fundamentally reconsider the role factions play in shaping the way parties work internally and the way they interact with society.
