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How vital are political parties in contemporary democracies? How effectively do they contribute to the fulfilment of the classic political functions commonly ascribed to them? What is their popular status and their organizational strength? These are the central questions which this book confronts through a rigorous comparative analysis of political parties operating under broadly democratic conditions. This is the first of two volumes based on the contributions of teams of leading experts; while it focuses on parties in established democracies, the companion volume will concentrate on their development and role in transitional democracies.