Chapter 12 European Parties and Party Systems
Robert Ladrech
European Parties and Party Systems
• • • • • Origins and Cleavages Party Families Party Organization Party Systems Parties and Party Systems in PostCommunist States
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 ideologicallysimilar parties • Recent trend of de-alignment • European integration circumscribes party policy to an extent
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
Parties and Party Systems in PostCommunist 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
Conclusion
• Political parties across Europe have starkly different histories, especially between east and west Europe • But, common challenges:
– European integration – Relationship to members