A digital party organisation? Evolution of the Czech Pirates

We examine the digital party model using the Czech Pirates as a case study. The party was initially organised through an online platform and characterised by ad-hoc, informal decision-making. However, an election breakthrough and institutionalisation were secured only by a shift towards the offline sphere and organisational adaptation involving investment in structures, paid facilities and partial professionalisation, and by adopting detailed internal rules. The effect was a significant move away from the digital model, which increased the party's organisational resilience and reduced the risks of disintegration. Simultaneously, these measures strengthened the power of the party's politicians in public office.