How many parties?

Many parties, few real contenders. In a democracy, any group of citizens may form a party. The Election Commission of India has more than 750 on its register. But only a handful have a real chance of winning and forming the government. So how many serious parties are good for democracy?

One-party system. Just one party may rule. In China, only the Communist Party rules. Legally people may form other parties, but the election system does not allow free competition for power. This is not democratic: a democracy must let at least two parties compete with a fair chance of winning.

Two-party system. Power usually passes between two main parties. Smaller parties can also exist and win some seats, but only the two big ones have a serious chance of a majority. Examples: the USA and the United Kingdom.

Multiparty system. Three or more parties have a real chance of power, alone or with partners. India is one. Governments are often coalitions. When parties join hands before an election to fight and win together, it is an alliance or front. In the 2004 elections India had three: the Left Front, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). It can look messy and unstable, but it lets many interests and opinions be represented.

Which is best? Not a good question. A country does not choose its party system; it grows over a long time from the country's society, its social and regional divisions, its political history and its election system. India is multiparty because its huge social and geographical diversity cannot fit into just two or three parties. No one system suits every country.

Do people trust parties? Surveys in South Asia show low trust: more people say they trust parties 'not much' or 'not at all' than 'some' or 'a great deal'. Parties are among the least trusted institutions worldwide. Yet in India, party membership is higher than in many rich democracies like Canada, Japan, Spain and South Korea, and both membership and feeling 'close to a party' have gone up over the last three decades.