Changing party systems in Western Europe

This book analyses the changing pressures and demands placed on the party systems in eleven countries of Western Europe since 1945. It includes studies of the party system in the 'big four' Western European countries: Britain, France, Italy and Germany, as well as studies of seven other nations of considerable interest: Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Five major themes are examined in each chapter. First, the broad development of the party system is set out, including a discussion of how different party system typologies have been applied to each country. Second, a detailed discussion of the historical background to party system developments is provided, dealing with the main underpinning cleavages derived from the typology of Lipset and Rokkan. Third, the most important contextual variables are considered in terms of the 'electoral environment' within which the party systems operate. Fourth, consideration is given to the degree of 'unfreezing' of the party system since 1945, along with the shifting balance between stability and change. Finally, major questions of innovation and adaptation are examined to bring each chapter up to the present day.

The study is important for its identification of broad trends within the mature Western European party systems. The analyses are up-to-date and empirical, emphasising the further 'defreezing' in these party systems that has occurred in the 1990s.