Technology
Party Cartelization and the Erosion of Electoral Competition
Quick fact
In cartelized party systems, the major parties often pass laws that allocate public funding based on previous electoral performance, making it nearly impossible for new parties to gain a foothold—so the incumbents perpetuate themselves while pretending to compete.
Why this is interesting
Imagine two rival football teams that secretly agree to always share the championship trophy—but still put on a show of fierce competition. In politics, something similar happens when 'opposing' parties quietly cooperate to keep outsiders from winning at all.