Abstract

The essay examines the debate in comparative doctrine on political parties. Beginning with contributions published in this Review, the author reconstructs the evolution of legal thought, globally, on parties focusing, in particular, on the relationship between parties and the form of government and on the instruments for protecting democracy from anti-constitutional parties. Recalling the main essays on the subject, both Italian and foreign, the author highlights the impact on forms of government brought about by the emergence of anti-system parties and new types of interest aggregation such as lobbies.