Chapter 5 - Variation in Local Organizational Development

Summary

The local organizational life of political parties displays notable variation that merits systematic examination. The purpose of this chapter is to document the divergent trajectories of subnational organizational units, providing the basis for the subsequent analysis of developmental variation. The first section analyzes the basic characteristics of all local party organizations the Golden Dawn (GD) set up, laying the groundwork for the subsequent analysis of variation in their organizational evolution. The second section provides insights into local organizational life by analyzing the range of activities they have undertaken over a period of twenty-three years. The third section uses these data to show the distinct trajectories of the various local units of the GD and analyze variation in organizational outcomes. It first presents evidence regarding the degree of continuity these local structures display bringing to the surface cases of organizational persistence and fatality. It then delves deeper into the organizational life of local party branches and presents data regarding their activism.