Party Leadership
How party leaders are chosen, the power they wield, and the dynamics of leadership challenges and succession.
Who Chooses the Leader?
How parties choose their leaders varies enormously and has significant consequences. The most exclusive method is selection by a small group of party elites (common historically and still used in some parties). More inclusive methods include selection by party members through postal ballots (the UK's Labour and Conservative parties), selection by registered supporters (France's open primaries), and selection through primary elections open to all voters (the US system).
The trend over recent decades has been toward more inclusive selection methods, known as 'leadership democratization.' This shift reflects declining party membership (parties need to attract broader participation) and a belief that leaders chosen by wider electorates have greater legitimacy. However, inclusive methods can produce leaders who are popular with the base but unelectable nationally, as UK Labour arguably experienced with Jeremy Corbyn.