Western European Party Systems: Continuity and Change

This acclaimed text on comparative and Western European politics is now available in paperback. The book analyses the reasons for the continuity and stability of the established European party systems and describes how changes of policy and opinion have affected the appeal and electoral performance of particular parties. It examines issues such as the shifting pattern of electoral support in Europe since the second world war, the electoral advantages of incumbency, the changing fortunes of mass parties and parties of the left, the impact of regionalism on party systems and the danger of political fragmentation caused by the increasing number of parties.