flokkur

Flokkur is an Icelandic term that denotes a group organized around shared goals, and it is most commonly used to mean a political party. The word can also refer more generally to a faction or bloc within a larger organization.

Etymology and usage: Flokkur derives from Old Norse flokkr, historically meaning a cluster or band of people. In modern Icelandic, the term is applied to organized groups with a common program, leadership, and structured activities. In everyday language, it can also refer to any factional grouping, not only formal political parties.

In politics: A flokkur is a formal organization that participates in elections, presents a platform, maintains membership and leadership, and engages in policy advocacy. Icelandic political parties are often identified by the suffix -flokkurinn in their official names, such as Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (the Independence Party) and Framsóknarflokkurinn (the Progressive Party). The term is used by media and scholars to refer to the party as an actor or to discuss parties collectively as flokkarnir (the parties).

Differences from related concepts: A flokkur is typically more formal and membership-based than a hreyfing (movement) or an informal faction, and it differs from a félag (association) in its primary focus on electoral politics, governance, and public policy. Parties may form coalitions or electoral alliances, but the formal entity of a flokkur remains a central organizing principle.

See also: Political party, party system, Icelandic politics.