Political parties are central to the functioning of modern democracies. Since the beginning of democratic politics they have controlled the electoral process, government formation and policy-making. Over the course of history they have shown remarkable adaptive capacity, in that they have been able to adjust their ideology and strategy to rapidly changing electoral environments.
This module introduces the classical models of voting behaviour. Based on this knowledge, more recent changes in voting behaviour will be discussed, including theories of dealignment and post-materialist value change. A second major focus will be on competing typologies of party systems; measurement of party systems, and determinants of party system change. Teaching format: 10 weekly 2-hour seminars. Assessment: 2 2,500-word essays
Barred combination: PIR-30035/30036 European Parties, Party Systems and Elections
2 hour seminars
- to familiarise you with both classic and contemporary political science literature on the analysis of European party systems and elections;
- to ensure that you have a detailed empirical knowledge of these phenomena in a selection of western European states.
- the classical literature on the relationship between cleavages and party systems
- approaches to explaining voting behaviour
- changes in the determinants of voting behaviour
- the role of parties in consociational democracy
- party system typologies
- measures and explanations of party system change
This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.