Parties, conflicts and coalitions in Western Europe. Organisational determinants of coalition bargaining

Author (Person)
Publisher
Publication Date 1998
ISBN 0-415-11602-3
Content Type

This book explores the impact intraparty conflicts have on a political party's ability to bargain with other parties and enter into coalitions. Focusing on the UK, Italy, France, Denmark and Norway, it investigates whether the organisational imperatives of political parties play a role in party strategy and interparty competition.

The author shows that the degree of centralisation or decentralisation of a party and the nature of the intraparty conflict affect the party elite's ability to neutralise and pacify internal opposition. He challenges the traditional view that centralised party structures make it easier to remain in coalitions. Crucially, he finds that decentralised models provide a variety of ways to manage such conflict without members leaving the party or voicing dissent outside the party.

Using extensive empirical evidence and drawing on numerous interviews with parliamentary elites, this study challenges traditional theory to show that, in practice, those parties able to contain internal conflicts retain the strongest bargaining power within coalition governments.

Maor, Moshe
Parties, conflicts and coalitions in Western Europe. Organisational determinants of coalition bargaining
Routledge, 1998
ISBN: 0-415-11602-3
Price: £45.00

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