About the book: 2007 / The reader is offered one of the first in Russia, textbooks on the basics of the theory of political parties, containing a detailed analysis of the origin, socio-political nature and functions. The work comprehensively reveals the issues of the organizational foundations of party building, legal regulation and financial and economic activities of political parties, provides a comparative analysis and typology of political parties and party systems. The textbook is intended for students, graduate students and teachers of higher educational institutions, political experts and consultants, students of the party education system.