Manipulation or Participation? Membership Inclusion in the Party Organizations of the German Social Democratic Workers’ Party and the British National Liberal Federation

Voluntary Associations and Political Participation

“…The fact that many of these members did not have access to the ballot indicates the importance of voluntary associations for the process of politicization and democratization long before the advent of mass parties or the extension of voting rights. 49 Voluntary associations, especially after the innovation of organizing local auxiliaries to national organizations, were perhaps more important in creating a national political community than is often thought.…”