What's the point of being a party member ? It seems most of the point of being a party member in, say, France is access to elected officials, and possibility of becoming a candidate. It's been some time since party members had any effect on political opinions : campaigns are run nationally, from the top, with mass media being used, rather than in a decentralised fashion with party members convincing their neighbours. Programs are also conceived at the top, with little or no input from party members.

At most party members may be asked to choose the party leader or candidate for the presidential election, but without control over said party leader...

What's the point ? In France, political parties have become coalitions of local elected officials, and of a part of the Paris technocracy. Party members only count as people who applaud at meetings.

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères