Yes, it can. Party discipline actually exists in Norway unlike the US
Is that supposed to be a good or bad thing?
I suppose it's useful in parliamentary systems where the government depends on a majority.
Aside from that, I dislike "party discipline", as I connect the word with "party power". I prefer the way the U.S. Senate works in that regard.
I sure as hell wouldn't want party leaders shoving their agenda through the Senate with the power to penalize senators that don't play along.
Much better than having Senators running around exercising vastly outsized power relative to their constituency (even ignoring malapportionment) and extorting personal and local gains at the expense of the country. Weak party systems are cesspools of corruption and influence-peddling and the primary problem with the US's political structure.
Yeah the Senate is certainly unfair in the way the seats are distributed. Max Baucus should never have the influence he currently has.
Still....one of the things that gets criticized here in Germany is the excessive influence of parties, the
Parteienstaat.
I suppose some of that could be solved by switching from MMP to STV. At present important party members are nominated in districts and are on the party list, to make sure they'll get in no matter what.
