COMPULSORY PARTY DEMOCRACY - FINLAND AS A DEVIANT CASE IN SCANDINAVIA

Political parties in Finland deviate from the Scandinavian standard, a s they are highly controlled by laws and decrees. Regulation and contr ol have a negative connotation in Scandinavia because they are seen as associated with state interference, in opposition to the corner-stone s of civic liberty. Organization theories support the negative concept ions, as publicly controlled organizations are considered more central ized and less open to membership influence. According to these theorie s, this tendency is most prominent in large and/or important parties. However, the present study shows that there is a wide variety among pa rties in their degree of hierarchical and egalitarian rule. Party orga nization is affected more by age of party and common ideology than by party size and importance. The system promotes a given level of member ship influence, as party democracy is compulsory.