Political faction: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Group of individuals within a political party, united by a particular common political purpose}}
{{Short description|Group within a political party}}
{{distinguish|Parliamentary group}}
{{about| divisions within political parties | organisations with both political and military subdivisions | paramilitary group}}
{{party politics}}
{{party politics}}
A '''political faction''' is a  group of people with a common [[politics|political]] purpose, especially a subgroup of a [[political party]] that has interests or opinions different from the rest of the political party.<ref>[https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203715208-2/factions-ralph-nicholas Nicholas, R. W. (2012). Factions: a comparative analysis. In Political systems and the distribution of power (pp. 21-61). Routledge.]</ref><ref>[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/faction "faction"], ''[[dictionary.com]]''</ref> [[Intragroup conflict]] between factions can lead to [[schism]] of the political party into two political parties. The [[Ley de Lemas]] electoral system allows the voters to indicate on the ballot their preference for political factions within a political party. Political factions can represent [[voting bloc]]s. Political factions require a [[Party discipline#Weaker party disciplin|weaker party discipline]]. Research indicates that factions can play an important role in moving their host party along the ideological spectrum <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blum |first1=Rachel M. |last2=Cowburn |first2=Mike |title=How Local Factions Pressure Parties: Activist Groups and Primary Contests in the Tea Party Era |journal=British Journal of Political Science |date=23 June 2023 |pages=1–22 |doi=10.1017/S0007123423000224 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-political-science/article/abs/how-local-factions-pressure-parties-activist-groups-and-primary-contests-in-the-tea-party-era/0F901491A0684F481B11525CF477B286|doi-access=free }}</ref>


== Political factions in Japan by political party==
A '''political faction''' is a group of people with a common [[politics|political]] purpose. More specifically, '''political faction''' denotes a subgroup of a [[political party]], where the former may be distinguished by having one or more opinions or interests that differ from the latter's.<ref>[https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203715208-2/factions-ralph-nicholas Nicholas, R. W. (2012). Factions: a comparative analysis. In Political systems and the distribution of power (pp. 21-61). Routledge.]</ref><ref>[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/faction "faction"] entry at ''[[dictionary.com]]''</ref> [[Intragroup conflict|Intra-party conflict]] between factions can lead to [[schism]] of the party into two or more political parties. The ''[[ley de lemas]]'' electoral system allows the voters to indicate on the [[ballot]] their support for a specific faction of their preference within a political party. Political factions can represent [[voting bloc]]s. Political factions require a [[Party discipline#Weaker party discipline|weaker party discipline]]. Research indicates that factions can play an important role in moving their host party along the [[Political spectrum|ideological spectrum]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blum |first1=Rachel M. |last2=Cowburn |first2=Mike |title=How Local Factions Pressure Parties: Activist Groups and Primary Contests in the Tea Party Era |journal=British Journal of Political Science |date=23 June 2023 |pages=1–22 |doi=10.1017/S0007123423000224 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-political-science/article/abs/how-local-factions-pressure-parties-activist-groups-and-primary-contests-in-the-tea-party-era/0F901491A0684F481B11525CF477B286|doi-access=free }}</ref>
 
==George Washington's Farewell Address==
The first president of the United States, [[George Washington]], warned of political factions in his famous [[George Washington's Farewell Address|farewell address]] from 1796. He warned of political parties generally, as according to Washington, political party loyalty when prioritized over [[Patriotism|duty to the nation]] and commitment to principles, was considered to be a major threat to the survival of a [[Democracy|democratic]] [[constitutional republic]]:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2019-03-07 |title=The Founding Fathers Feared Political Factions Would Tear the Nation Apart |url=https://www.history.com/news/founding-fathers-political-parties-opinion |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=HISTORY |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Avlon |first=John |date=2017-01-10 |title=George Washington’s Farewell Warning |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/washingtons-farewell-address-warned-us-about-hyper-partisanship-214616/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=POLITICO Magazine |language=en}}</ref><blockquote>Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it [the formation and loyalty to partisan interests, over loyalty to principles or one's country].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
 
==By country==
 
===Australia===
* Factions in the [[Australian Labor Party]]
** [[Labor Left]]
** [[Labor Right]]
 
* Factions in the [[Liberal Party of Australia]]
** [[Moderates_(Liberal_Party_of_Australia)|Moderates]]
** [[Centre_Right_(Liberal_Party_of_Australia)|Centre Right]]
** [[National_Right_(Liberal_Party_of_Australia)|National Right]]
 
===France===
* [[Factions in the Socialist Party (France)]]
 
===Italy===
* [[Factions in the Communist Refoundation Party]]
* [[Factions in the Democratic Party (Italy)]]
* [[Factions in Forza Italia]]
* [[Factions in The People of Freedom]]
 
===Japan===
* [[Factions in the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)]]
* [[Factions in the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)]]


== Political factions in United Kingdom by political party==
===Russia/Soviet Union===
* [[Factions of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party]]
* {{ill|List of Oppositions in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|ru|Список оппозиций в ВКП(б)}}
 
===South Korea===
* [[Chilseonghoe]]
* [[Hanahoe]]
* [[Chungam Faction|Chungam]]
 
===United Kingdom===
* [[List of organisations associated with the Conservative Party (UK)]]
* [[List of organisations associated with the Conservative Party (UK)]]
* [[List of organisations associated with the Labour Party (UK)]]
* [[List of organisations associated with the Labour Party (UK)]]


== Political factions in United States by political party==
===United States===
* [[Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)]]
* [[Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)]]
* [[Factions in the Republican Party (United States)]]
* [[Factions in the Republican Party (United States)]]
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==See also==
==See also==
* [[Ginger group]], formal or informal group within an organisation seeking to influence its direction and activity
* [[Partisan (politics)]]
* [[Partisan (politics)]]
==Further reading==
* Blum, Rachel M.; Noel, Hans C. (2024). ''[[doi:10.1017/9781009495615|Cooperating Factions: A Network Analysis of Party Divisions in U.S. Presidential Nominations]]''. Cambridge University Press.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Political Faction}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Politics]]
 
[[Category:Politics|faction]]
[[Category:Political party factions| ]]
[[Category:Political party factions| ]]

Latest revision as of 18:55, 12 March 2026


This article is about divisions within political parties. For organisations with both political and military subdivisions, see paramilitary group.
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A political faction is a group of people with a common political purpose. More specifically, political faction denotes a subgroup of a political party, where the former may be distinguished by having one or more opinions or interests that differ from the latter's.[1][2] Intra-party conflict between factions can lead to schism of the party into two or more political parties. The ley de lemas electoral system allows the voters to indicate on the ballot their support for a specific faction of their preference within a political party. Political factions can represent voting blocs. Political factions require a weaker party discipline. Research indicates that factions can play an important role in moving their host party along the ideological spectrum.[3]

George Washington's Farewell Address[edit | edit source]

The first president of the United States, George Washington, warned of political factions in his famous farewell address from 1796. He warned of political parties generally, as according to Washington, political party loyalty when prioritized over duty to the nation and commitment to principles, was considered to be a major threat to the survival of a democratic constitutional republic:[4][5]

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it [the formation and loyalty to partisan interests, over loyalty to principles or one's country].[5][4]

By country[edit | edit source]

Australia[edit | edit source]

France[edit | edit source]

Italy[edit | edit source]

Japan[edit | edit source]

Russia/Soviet Union[edit | edit source]

South Korea[edit | edit source]

United Kingdom[edit | edit source]

United States[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Further reading[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Nicholas, R. W. (2012). Factions: a comparative analysis. In Political systems and the distribution of power (pp. 21-61). Routledge.
  2. ↑ "faction" entry at dictionary.com
  3. ↑ Blum, Rachel M.; Cowburn, Mike (23 June 2023). "How Local Factions Pressure Parties: Activist Groups and Primary Contests in the Tea Party Era". British Journal of Political Science: 1–22. doi:10.1017/S0007123423000224.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "The Founding Fathers Feared Political Factions Would Tear the Nation Apart". HISTORY. 2019-03-07. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Avlon, John (2017-01-10). "George Washington's Farewell Warning". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
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