How party systems in Central and Eastern Europe affect government formation

Coalition governments are the norm in most European countries, but how do the dynamics of coalition negotiations differ between Western European states and those in Central and Eastern Europe? Drawing on a recent study*, Lee Savage illustrates that some common features of Central and Eastern European party systems, such as greater electoral volatility, can lead to coalition formation processes that are distinct from those in Western Europe.

* Savage, L. M. (2016). Party system institutionalization and government formation in new democracies. World Politics, 68(3), 499-537. DOI: 10.1017/S0043887115000477