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Chapter 12 European Parties and Party Systems

European Parties and Party Systems. Origins and CleavagesParty FamiliesParty OrganizationParty SystemsParties and Party Systems in Post-Communist States. Introduction. Parties are key to representative politicsVirtually all politicians are based within partiesParties located across a broad ideological spectrumParty families are groupings of ideologically-similar partiesRecent trend of de-alignmentEuropean integration circumscribes party policy to an extent.

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Chapter 12 European Parties and Party Systems

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    1. Chapter 12 European Parties and Party Systems Robert Ladrech

    2. European Parties and Party Systems Origins and Cleavages Party Families Party Organization Party Systems Parties and Party Systems in Post-Communist States

    3. Introduction Parties are key to representative politics Virtually all politicians are based within parties Parties located across a broad ideological spectrum Party families are groupings of ideologically-similar parties Recent trend of de-alignment European integration circumscribes party policy to an extent

    4. Origins Parties began life in parliaments Mass parties originated outside parliaments, mobilizing working class Communist/social democratic parties on left Christian Democratic/conservative parties on right Liberal parties in centre swing parties Cleavages can explain development of party systems (Lipset and Rokkan)

    5. Party Families: Left families Social democracy Oldest family on left Ex-Marxists Support welfare state/new middle class Communists Ex-supporters of USSR Foundering since 1991

    6. Party Families: Left families New Left Emerged 1960s Communists who reject USSR-model Main impact in Denmark, Norway Greens Emerged 1970s c.5-10% vote Post-materialist values

    7. Centre and right party families Liberals Traditionally secular and pro-civil rights Lost votes to mass social democratic parties Recent internal split between left and right Agrarian parties Christian Democrats Support dominant Christian religion in their country Support welfare state, often represent business

    8. Centre and right party families Conservatives Non-Christian right Less supportive of welfare state, fiscally conservative, pro-national defence Far right Risen since 1980s Often anti-immigration

    9. Party Organization As states became democratic, so parties need to incorporate mass membership Parties attempt to link local branches to national party policy Need to link party executive to parliamentary party Sources of party finance: Internal funding (e.g. members fees) Affiliated interest group State

    10. Party Systems Multi-party systems are norm in Europe Not all parties get chance to govern Some party systems dominated by single party Post-materialist parties (e.g. Greens) increased in importance during 1980s/90s

    11. Parties and Party Systems in Post-Communist States Parties and party systems developed differently in east Europe due to communist history Currently in state of flux Unclear ideological position Weak party organization Weak link between parties and electorates

    12. Conclusion Political parties across Europe have starkly different histories, especially between east and west Europe But, common challenges: European integration Relationship to members

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