ABSTRACT
Most countries have parties, and nearly all countries have had parties at some time in recent decades. These organizations are thus a major feature of contemporary societies. But not all parties are strong and influence markedly the political life of the countries in which they emerge and develop. Party leaders often talk, in a somewhat grandiose manner, about the way parties guide political life: they may not all claim, as in communist states, that parties are at the ‘vanguard’ ; but, in different terms and with a different emphasis, they usually hold the view that their organizations shape society in a significant manner. How far can these claims be sustained and, since the role of parties manifestly varies, how far can one assess the extent of these variations both among countries and over time?
