Political Theory: Christian thawt : Prof David Koyzis has a major article in the new Comment weekly journal online

Dr Koyzis , in the reformulated and redesigned new magazine Comment(July 2005 - V. 23 I. 7), has an article (it seems to be part of an ongoing series) Building Institutions - Political parties much worth your clicking up and reading in its full text, from which I quote a chunk below, but which merits more attention.

...{T]he classic political party in the stereotypical western democracy is based on adherence to a specific set of political principles, often grouped under the label of ideologies. Most countries have a liberal party, a socialist or social democratic party, a communist or ex-communist party, and many even have professed Christian democratic parties. Such parties see themselves as representing, not a particular interest group constituting only a part of the body politic, but a particular vision of life and politics which they deem to be in the ultimate interest of the entire citizenry. Liberals do not simply articulate the interests of middle-class entrepreneurs, though they may indeed come to be identified with them. Rather they see themselves as evangelists for the principles of liberalism which they believe will eventually benefit everyone, whatever their current economic or social status. Similarly, socialists, though they are often tied to the labour unions, believe in their heart of hearts that implementing a socialist agenda will help all citizens, and not just industrial workers.

Half a century ago the French political scientist Maurice Duverger discovered a causal link between electoral systems and party systems. A single-member-plurality electoral system, also known as first-past-the-post, tends to encourage a two-party system, he found. That is to say, where a country is divided into so many electoral districts, each of which can elect only one representative by a simple majority, or plurality, the sorts of parties produced will tend to be pragmatic brokerage parties playing down principles and playing up winning at the polls. In any political system only two such parties are needed to make for competitive elections. A third such party will quickly make itself redundant, as one of the other two steals its thunder.

Secularization in 19 th- and 20 th-century Europe led to the rise of the modern party systems in which Christian democratic parties took their place as representatives, not only of the Christian community as a mere part of the whole, but of Christian principles manifested within the political realm. No longer could Christians rest on the assumption that theirs were Christian societies governed by a biblical vision of life. Instead this vision would have to be raised deliberately as a banner in the public square, competing with other visions - and illusions - for the allegiance of the voters.

The professor goes on in his article to give a solid overview analysis, and then to suggest a number of possible actions some Christians may want to take. Of course, tho not mentioned, in the profession of journalism there is an profession-specific ethical code adhered to by some in the field (including some Christians) that requires political writers to maintain a sufficient independence of critical perception by not joining any political grouping or voting for any party in any election. Still, that does not rule adhering to much of the Koyzis analysis and historiographical insite presented in this important article. - Politicarp