Party Dominance as a New Configuration of Political Leadership in a Postmodern Society

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of political parties in the emerging postmodern era, characterized by a rejection of rigid ideological principles and a rethinking of modern-era institutions. Under these conditions, party dominance acquires particular significance as a form of political leadership capable of responding to the fragmentation of the social sphere and the redefinition of the very nature of power, which increasingly relies on mediatization and symbolic communication. Purpose. The study aims to identify the factors that account for the emergence of party dominance in the postmodern context and to analyze the evolution of the ideological and organizational models of political parties dictated by the changed circumstances. Methods. The research is based on a theoretical analysis of scholarly works devoted to postmodern transformations of society. The author employs a comparative method to analyze party dominance in Western and modernizing countries.Scientific Novelty. The author offers a comprehensive view of the dominant party as an institutionalized strategy of political leadership, implying flexible ideological frameworks and the use of media resources. The novelty lies in interpreting the phenomenon of dominance through the prism of postmodern values: the rejection of rigid ideological boundaries, global mediatization, and the situational identity of voters. Results. It is shown that it is precisely postmodernity, with its decentralized discursive practices and shifting social boundaries, that has created a unique environment for entrenching dominance as a stable form of party influence. Conclusions. Party dominance performs an integrative function in conditions of postmodern fragmentation, ensuring social stability, reproducing value consensus, and minimizing conflicts.