“Not To Be Taken Personally”: Tracing Six Decades of Scholarship on Personal, Personalist, and Personalized Political Parties (1960–2021)

Abstract

This article systematically examines the academic literature on personalism and personalization in political parties. Its comprehensive review uses existing studies to (1) demonstrate that personalism has a rich and complex history; (2) outline conceptual differences within the literature related to size, clientelism, internal organization, centralization, and mediatic image; (3) trace patterns of institutionalization and de-personalization of personal parties; and (4) evaluate existing empirical and methodological approaches to the topic. Finally, the conclusion advocates for the adoption of a clear research agenda and proposes conceptual, quantitative, and discursive alternatives to what has already been done.