7 - Conclusion
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2025
Summary
Although they are stable, party constitutions are not immutable. Over the past decade, parties have become increasingly decentralized – especially with respect to leadership selection. Chapter 7 concludes by assessing the implications of the book’s findings for strategically motivated party leaders contemplating institutional change. The chapter also considers similarities and differences with US primaries and discusses how decentralized structures may shape candidate quality. Kernell concludes by discussing avenues for future research, arguing party – as well as electoral – institutions should be accounted for in studies of democratic responsiveness.
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- Information
- Inside PartiesHow Party Rules Shape Membership and Responsiveness, pp. 169 - 182Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025