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| Top 10 Largest Political Parties in the World |
The
world of politics can be a cut-throat place, especially when it comes to the
various parties that operate within each country and their respective
governments. Political parties are generally organized groups of like-minded
individuals who work together to achieve a common goal or some set of
principles and ideas. While there are many different types of political parties
operating in numerous countries around the world today, some stand out as being
larger or more prominent than others. This article takes a look at the top 10
largest political parties in the world based on membership size, social media
following, and prominence among other things. Some of these might come as a
surprise given that smaller parties tend to receive more attention for their views
rather than their membership numbers.
India: IndianNational Congress (INC)
The
Indian National Congress is a political party that has a long and rich history
in the country of India. The INC was founded in 1885 and has since grown to
become the world's largest political party by membership size with
approximately 101 million members according to the party's website. The INC
played an essential role in the Indian independence movement and is currently
one of the two major parties in the Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha. The
Indian National Congress has been the governing party of India on a few
occasions, most recently from 2004 to 2014 through two terms under the
leadership of Manmohan Singh. Although the INC is a proponent of liberal
democratic values, many of the party's members are actually involved in social
activism and civil engagement to promote Indian culture and values. The INC has
been seen as the more secular of India's two major parties, although the
party's official stance is that it is not secular or anti-religious.
China:Communist Party of China
The
Communist Party of China is the world's largest political party by membership
size and has ruled China for over 80 years under a single-party system. Founded
in 1921, the Chinese Communist Party has since grown to become an international
organization with members in over 100 countries around the world. The party is
also the single largest political party in the world by the number of members with
an estimated 90 million individuals registered with the party. The Chinese
Communist Party has been the ruling party of China since the country's last
Empress, Dowager Cixi, was removed from power in 1911. Since then, there
has been a constant push towards modernization and reform within the country
with varying levels of success due to the Communist Party's authoritarian
approach to government. A common misconception is that the Chinese Communist
Party is a socialist organization, however, the party's official stance is that
it is an authoritarian Marxist-Leninist party.
United States:Republican Party
The
Republican Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States
and boasts an estimated membership of 46-48 million individuals. Founded in
1854, the Republican Party is one of the oldest political parties in the world
and one of the two dominant parties in the United States. The Republican Party
is known for being fiscally conservative and socially moderate with a focus on
the rights of businesses and entrepreneurs. The Republican Party has controlled
the United States government on and off since the end of the 19th century and
currently holds a majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The
current United States President, Donald Trump, is a member of the Republican
Party. The Republican Party is currently divided into two factions: the
establishment wing and the populist wing. The populist wing is considered to be
more extreme in its views on immigration, trade, and social issues such as
LGBTQ rights. The establishment wing, on the other hand, is considered to be
more moderate and open to compromise. The current division between the two
wings has resulted in a great deal of gridlock in the American government since
the 2016 presidential election.
Brazil:Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB)
The
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) is a Brazilian political party that
currently has an estimated membership of 29 million people. The party is one of
the five major political parties in Brazil and has been a part of a majority
government in the country since the 1930s. The PMDB currently has a majority
stake in the Brazilian government, with three seats in the Brazilian cabinet
and the Brazilian presidency occupied by its former leader, Michel Temer. While
the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party generally supports a free-market
approach to economic policy, it has been considered to be a catch-all party
that has been open to various ideologies and social groups since its formation.
The Brazilian Democratic Movement Party is also the largest coalition partner
within the Brazilian government and has been an essential partner in passing
legislation in the country.
Ethiopia:
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRDF)
The
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRDF) is a political party that has a
membership of approximately 28 million people. Founded in 1987, the Ethiopian
People's Revolutionary Party has since grown to become the largest political
party in Ethiopia. The party is currently in power in the country under a
coalition government and has implemented a number of reforms designed to modernize
the Ethiopian economy and facilitate development in the country. The Ethiopian
People's Revolutionary Party is generally seen as a center-left political party
that has implemented a number of social programs designed to help the poor in
Ethiopia and promote growth in the country. The party is also known for its
commitment to the rights of women and members of the LGBTQ community.
Mexico:
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)
The
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) is a Mexican political party that has
an estimated membership of 28 million people. The PRI is one of the five major
political parties in Mexico and has been in power in the country for much of
the past century. The PRI is currently the majority party in the Mexican
federal government, holding six seats in the Mexican cabinet including the
Mexican presidency. The Mexican PRI is generally seen as a socially
conservative party with a strong commitment to economic liberalism. The party
is seen as being pro-business and has traditionally been pro-free trade.
However, the PRI has also been very open to social reform in recent years and
has implemented a number of programs designed to help those in poverty in
Mexico.
Germany:Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party, the Christian SocialUnion (CSU)
The
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is a German political party that has an
estimated membership of 20 million individuals. The Christian Democratic Union
is one of the two major political parties in Germany and has been in power in
the country since the end of the Second World War. The current German
Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is the leader of the Christian Democratic Union. The
Christian Democratic Union has been the dominant party in Germany since the
1950s and generally supports a market economy with a strong social welfare
state. The Christian Democratic Union has been in a coalition government with
the Christian Social Union and other political parties since the end of World
War II. The Christian Social Union is a sister party of the Christian
Democratic Union in the southern German state of Bavaria. The two parties,
while having a great deal of overlap in membership and ideology, are officially
separate entities.
Italy: Italian
Democratic Party
The
Italian Democratic Party is a political party that has a membership of
approximately 20 million individuals in the country of Italy. The party is one
of the two dominant political parties in Italy and is currently in power in the
country under the leadership of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. The Italian
Democratic Party generally promotes a liberal democratic model of government
with a strong focus on the rule of law and social equality. The Italian
Democratic Party is also known for its strong ties to the Roman Catholic Church
with many members of the clergy having been affiliated with the party in the
past. The Italian Democratic Party has been in power in Italy almost
continuously since the end of the Second World War and is currently in a
coalition government with the far-right, populist, Five Star Movement.
Conclusion
Politics
is a fascinating and complex field with as many different approaches to
government as there are people in the world. From the highly social democratic
policies of the Indian National Congress to the strongly Catholic and
pro-business stance of the Italian Democratic Party, no two political parties
are alike. These are the largest political parties in the world based on
membership size, social media following, and prominence within their respective
countries. While political parties vary greatly from country to country, one
thing remains consistent: politics is a cut-throat game.
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