International Reports

Dear Readers, Political parties are a pillar of the democratic system. They assume central functions such as promoting citizen participation in political life and shaping public opinion. They have a major impact on our country’s political development and serve as an interface between state organs and the public. Parliamentary democracy is ultimately always party democracy. Developments under way in modern societies, such as increasing polarisation of political positions and the digitalisation of many areas of public and private life, present parties with enormous challenges, which they must find creative ways of overcoming. Digitalisation in particular offers opportunities: Parties today have a much wider variety of options for integrating people, disseminating information about their own positions, and appealing to potential voters. Social media has long been indispensable to electoral campaigns. But parties must continue to communicate with their voters on all channels. A good digital campaign is a prerequisite in every corner of the world. Yet, it by no means replaces traditional forms of campaigning, such as classic canvassing, as Frank Priess notes in his article. (fragment)