Party System Closure: Party Alliances, Government Alternatives, and Democracy in Europe

The book "Party System Closure" investigates the trends in interparty relations in Europe from 1848 until 2019, examining how factors such as democratic experience, institutionalization, parliament fragmentation, and support for anti-establishment parties shape the degree of institutionalization of party systems. It demonstrates that information collected from partisan interactions at the time of government formation can reveal changes that characterise the party system as a whole. The book finds that the Cold War period was exceptionally stable, while the post-Berlin-Wall era shows signs of disintegration, particularly at the level of voters. The West and the South are becoming more polarised than the East, but in terms of parliamentary fragmentation, the party systems of the South and the East are converging, while the West is diverging from the rest with its increasingly high number of parties.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Party System Closure: Mapping Trends in Interparty Relations in Europe from 1848 to 2019

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate dynamics of interparty relations in Europe,spanning a remarkable period from 1848 to 2019. By examining various factors such as the length of democratic experience,the institutionalization of individual parties,the fragmentation of parliaments,and the support for anti-establishment parties,the study seeks to understand the degree of institutionalization of party systems across Europe. Through rigorous analyses,the book answers critical questions about the predictability of partisan interactions and its impact on the survival and quality of democratic regimes. It explores the developments of party politics at the elite level,contrasting them with the dynamics of voting behavior. The comparisons of distinct historical periods and macro-regions provide a comprehensive picture of the European history of party competition and cooperation.

The empirical overview presented in the book is based on a novel conceptual framework and features party composition data of more than a thousand European governments. The analysis employs a party system typology that categorizes party systems into poles and blocs,and examines the degree of closure and polarization within these systems. The book demonstrates that information collected from partisan interactions at the time of government formation can reveal significant changes that characterize the party system as a whole.

The empirical results confirm that the Cold War period (1945-1989) was exceptionally stable,with relatively low levels of party de-institutionalization. However,the post-Berlin-Wall era (1990-2019) shows signs of disintegration,although more at the level of voters than at the level of elites. The West and the South are increasingly looking like the East,particularly in terms of the level of party de-institutionalization. While the West and the South are becoming more polarised than the East,the level of political fragmentation remains higher in the East.

In conclusion,Party System Closure offers a valuable contribution to the study of party politics in Europe. By examining the complex interplay of factors that shape interparty relations,the book provides insights into the dynamics of democratic regimes and the challenges they face. It sheds light on the factors that contribute to stability and disintegration,and offers valuable lessons for policymakers and scholars interested in understanding the future of party systems in Europe.

Weight: 646g
Dimension: 502 x 249 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198823605