Across the globe voters are losing faith in political parties - from both the left and the right. But why do we have parties and was there ever a time when politicians were independent and not bound by party rules?

Guests

Stephen Ingle - Professor History and Politics at Sterling University

David Karol - Associate Professor of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland

Paul Strangio - Associate Professor of Politics at Monash University

Publications

Title: The British Party System: An Introduction

Author: Stephen Ingle

Publisher: Routledge

Released: 31 Mar 2008

Title: Confusion : the making of the Australian two-party system

Author: Paul Strangio and Nick Dyrenfurth

Publisher: Melbourne University

Released: 31 Mar 2009

Title: "Political Parties in American Political Development" in The Oxford Handbook of American Political Development

Author: David Karol

Publisher: Oxford Handbook online

Released:30 Oct 2014

Credits

Presenter: Annabelle Quince

Producer: Annabelle Quince