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Party systems:

Party systems:. What difference does the number and kind of parties make?. Stereotypes. Multiparty systems are inherently unstable: The more parties you have the greater likelihood that either Cabinets will be short-lived Or

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Party systems:

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  1. Party systems: What difference does the number and kind of parties make?

  2. Stereotypes Multiparty systems are inherently unstable: • The more parties you have the greater likelihood that either • Cabinets will be short-lived Or • Regimes themselves will be susceptible to collapse (regime instability) instability

  3. Problem: is this valid? Available evidence suggests that is not: • The governments and regimes of most countries with multiparty systems are relatively stable • But some countries have not • Problem: what accounts for the difference?

  4. Polarized pluralism • Moderate v. polarized pluralism (Sartori) • Historically, certain countries with a large number of parties have suffered from chronic cabinet and sometimes regime instability: • Weimar Germany (1918-33) • 3rd Republic France (1875-1940) • Spain, 2nd Republic, 1931-1936 • 4th Republic France (1946-1958) • Italy, 1rst Republic (1945-1993)

  5. Explanations • All had not only a large number of parties, but were sharply polarized as well • Three of these had rather fluid, poorly disciplined parties • Spain, 2nd Republic • France, 3rd and 4th Republics • Only two, Weimar Germany and 2nd Rep Spain suffered regime collapse • Many Italian specialists doubt that Italy, despite frequent cabinet changes, was unstable

  6. Explaining stability • Depends on more than number of parties • Countries with multiparty systems find ways to cope: • Duty of heads of state (presidents or monarchs) to ensure that there is a government • Formal procedures • Use of formateurs and informateurs:

  7. Forming governments • Sweden and Scandinavia – role of parties themselves • Germany • Getting a government in the Netherlands • Role of the monarch • Informateurs • Formateurs • Getting a government in Belgium…

  8. The Federal Republic of Germany 1957-1983: SPD FPDCDU/CSU _______________________________ 1983-1989: G SPD FDP CDU/CSU _______________________________ 1990-present PDSG SPD CDU/CSU FDP __________________________________

  9. Sweden pre-1990: Left SDCentre Liberal Conservative __________________________________ From the 1990s: Left SDCentreLib Cons New Democ. ___________________________________

  10. Netherlands: Pre-2000 SP GL PvdA D66 CDA VVD CU SGP __________________________________

  11. Netherlands: from 2002 2002 SP GLPvdA D66CDA VVD LPF CU SGP __________________________________ 2008 PvdD SP GLPvdA D66CDA VVD TON PVV CU SGP _______________________________________

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