Questioning the cartelization thesis: financing party organizations in Brazil (1998-2016)

Abstract

The text analyzes the financing of party organizations in Brazil, from 1998 to 2016. Using descriptive statistics, we address the role of public resources, donations from private companies, contributions from members and parliamentarians. We question the applicability of the party cartelization thesis to the Brazilian case, showing that the public resource distribution model promotes fragmentation, not cartelization of the party system. We found that the private sector does not maintain organic links with parties that represent its interests, but acts pragmatically. It concentrates donations on the parties running for presidential elections, with ample advantage for the party that holds the presidency. Neither the affiliates nor the parliamentarians contribute significantly to the budget of the parties in Brazil.

party funding; cartelization; party affiliation; party fund; private financing