Kirchheimer's diagnosis
Kirchheimer (1966) argued that amid postwar growth, softening class conflict and the spread of mass media, Western European mass parties were turning into catch-all parties. He listed their features as a drastic reduction of ideological baggage, a strengthened top leadership, a downgraded role for individual members, less emphasis on a specific class base and access to a variety of interest groups. This was a new type following the cadre and mass parties distinguished by Duverger (1954).
Theoretical background and extensions
Downs's (1957) spatial model predicted that vote-maximizing parties move toward the median voter, and the catch-all party can be seen as this logic realized at the organizational level. Epstein (1967) compared Western party organizations and noted the declining importance of mass membership, while Panebianco (1988) developed the electoral-professional party, in which electoral professionals and media strategy replace party bureaucrats.
The cartel party and assessments
Katz and Mair (1995) argued that after the catch-all stage parties evolved into cartel parties that lean on the state rather than society and share public resources. Krouwel (2003) operationalized Kirchheimer's concept for many Western European parties and found that catch-allism generally advanced, though at different speeds across countries and parties. The concept is also used to explain partisan dealignment and the narrowing of policy differences between parties.
FAQ
- What is a catch-all party in simple terms?
- A big-tent party that tones down its ideology and tries to win votes from everyone rather than speaking for one group.
- How does a catch-all party differ from a cartel party?
- A catch-all party focuses on winning broad electoral support, while a cartel party describes a stage in which parties rely on state resources such as subsidies and limit competition among themselves.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- Kirchheimer, O. (1966). The transformation of the Western European party systems. In J. LaPalombara & M. Weiner (Eds.), Political parties and political development (pp. 177–200). Princeton University Press. The original statement of the concept.
- Duverger, M. (1954). Political parties: Their organization and activity in the modern state. Methuen. Mass and cadre parties.
- Downs, A. (1957). An economic theory of democracy. Harper & Row. Vote-maximizing parties.
- Epstein, L. D. (1967). Political parties in Western democracies. Praeger. Comparative party organization.
- Panebianco, A. (1988). Political parties: Organization and power. Cambridge University Press. The electoral-professional party.
- Katz, R. S., & Mair, P. (1995). Changing models of party organization and party democracy: The emergence of the cartel party. Party Politics, 1(1), 5–28. From catch-all to cartel party.
- Krouwel, A. (2003). Otto Kirchheimer and the catch-all party. West European Politics, 26(2), 23–40. Re-examining Kirchheimer.