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A System Perspective on Party System Change

A System Perspective on Party System Change Discussions of party system change may be unsatisfactory if insufficient attention is given to the defining properties of a system. A number of dimensions have to be considered, but - as with `social cleavages' - there can be disagreement as to whether a truly constitutive element is involved. In addition, it is necessary to distinguish the various degrees of change that are possible, and in this respect a study of the process of change is essential. Party system typologies are of little help, so that an alternative in the form of `working models' can be employed. The emphasis in this approach is on the identification of the `core components' of the particular system against which the degree of change can be assessed. An examination of representative West European party systems reveals that these core components show a strong persistence. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Theoretical Politics SAGE

A System Perspective on Party System Change

Smith, Gordon
Journal of Theoretical Politics , Volume 1 (3): 15 – Jul 1, 1989
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References (1)

Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
Copyright © by SAGE Publications
ISSN
0951-6298
eISSN
1460-3667
DOI
10.1177/0951692889001003005
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Discussions of party system change may be unsatisfactory if insufficient attention is given to the defining properties of a system. A number of dimensions have to be considered, but - as with `social cleavages' - there can be disagreement as to whether a truly constitutive element is involved. In addition, it is necessary to distinguish the various degrees of change that are possible, and in this respect a study of the process of change is essential. Party system typologies are of little help, so that an alternative in the form of `working models' can be employed. The emphasis in this approach is on the identification of the `core components' of the particular system against which the degree of change can be assessed. An examination of representative West European party systems reveals that these core components show a strong persistence.

Journal

Journal of Theoretical Politics – SAGE

Published: Jul 1, 1989

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