Party Organization and Electoral Participation

The Role of the UCR and PJ in Shaping the Democratic System in Tucumán

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between party organization and electoral participation in Tucumán, focusing on two historical parties: the Unión Cívica Radical (UCR) and the Partido Justicialista (PJ). Through a theoretical framework and an empirical analysis of the results of the most recent elections, it examines how the formal and informal structures of these parties impact electoral mobilization and the stability of the provincial democratic system. The study concludes that, although electoral participation levels remain high, this participation is strongly conditioned by clientelist practices, the use of state resources for electoral purposes, and the weakness of programmatic competition mechanisms. The mobilization capacity of both parties remains a key factor for democratic legitimacy in the province; however, they face significant challenges related to political fragmentation, citizen disengagement, and the need to reform their internal participation mechanisms to improve the quality of political representation.