Symbolic Rules and Strategic Practices: Intra-Party Democracy in Romanian Mainstream and Anti-System Parties

Abstract

This paper investigates the degree and quality of intra-party democracy (IPD) in four major Romanian political parties – Partidul Social Democrat (PSD), Partidul Naþional Liberal (PNL), Uniunea Salvaþi România (USR), and Alianþa pentru Unirea Românilor (AUR) – over the period 2014–2024. Although political parties remain essential institutions of representative democracy, they are increasingly criticized for declining legitimacy, limited participation, and excessive centralization. Building on comparative theories of party organization and change (Janda, Harmel & Janda, Panebianco, Poguntke, von dem Berge), the study approaches parties as complex organizations whose internal structures and decision-making processes directly affect democratic consolidation. The research employs a mixed qualitative–comparative methodology, combining content analysis of party statutes with a coding scheme that evaluates three main dimensions of intra-party democracy: participation, competitiveness, and transparency/responsibility. Findings reveal significant discrepancies between formal democratic provisions and actual practices, with mainstream parties (PSD, PNL) displaying extensive institutionalization but strong centralization, while newer anti-system parties (USR, AUR) adopt more selective or symbolic democratic norms. The analysis also shows how external shocks – such as electoral defeats, leadership turnovers, or institutional reforms – interact with internal power dynamics to shape organizational change. Overall, the study argues that intraparty democracy in Romania often functions as a rationalized myth: a set of formalized rules used to project legitimacy rather than to enable substantive member participation. By providing both a theoretical and methodological contribution, this work enhances understanding of the organizational underpinnings of party politics in post-communist democracies.