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Overview
The recent history of both Southern and Eastern Europe has demonstrated the key role that political parties play in the establishment of new parliamentary democracy. Political parties often form as a result of opposition to previously authoritarian regimes, and their performance during a transition period gives an excellent indication of the nature and prospects of democracy.
This is the first book to provide a systematic comparison of the democratic transitions of Eastern and Southern Europe. It does so with the aid of four case studies from each region, written by regional specialists. The countries covered include Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Bulgaria. Within a comparative framework the authors discuss the central questions of how democratic parties and political elites form, how alliances and coalitions are built, how parties cope with their inheritance and develop new identities and how they behave during elections.
Stabilising Fragile Democracies provides both an invaluable guide to recent events in Southern and Eastern Europe and a means to understanding the process of democratization.
Synopsis
Political Parties and the Transition to Democracy provides a systematic comparison of the democratic transitions in both Eastern and Southern Europe. Political Parties often play a crucial role in the process of democratization and the establishment of new parliamentary democracies. They often form as a result of opposition to a previous authoritarian regime and their performance during the transition to democracy can give a good indication as to the nature of, and prospects for, the new democracy.
Four main themes concerning the role of parties are examined - "coping with the past" (party identities and inheritances); the formation and performance of new democratic political elites; parties and alliances/coalitions; and their electoral behavior. These themes are discussed in comparative perspective with the aid of four case studies from both Southern and Eastern Europe. The countries covered include Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Bulgaria.
Democratization is a very complex process because it operates on many levels; By studying political parties this book focuses on an area that links many of the levels. Political Parties and the Transition of Democracy makes sense of democratization and the role of parties in that process.
Booknews
A comparative analysis of democratic transitional governments in eastern and southern Europe focusing on four case studies from Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Poland, and Bulgaria. The 14 contributors consider how democratic parties and political elites form, the alliances and coalitions that are built after authoritarian regimes, and how parties cope with their histories while establishing new political identities. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)