Partimedlemskapets förändrade funktioner i Finland

Authors

• Jans Sundberg

Abstract

Rational choice theory considers campaign work as the main function of party members. The members are mainly composed by candidates who are highly motivated by the incentive of becoming elected. In Finland, however, membership figures are high and only a minority of party members are involved in campaign work in national elections. According to the theory party membership should therefore decline. But the theory is incomplete because it only deals with national elections. The politicization of local elections multiplied the demand for candidates and campaigning was spread to a large group of members. Still a minority of the members are directly involved in campaign work. By contrast the majority of active members hold seats in the multitude of local boards and committees. Thus the main function of party members has changed from short term campaigning to permanent implementation of party politics in public government.