Advanced Introduction to Party Systems

"Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Paul Webb's Advanced Introduction to Party Systems expertly draws upon major theories and concepts, existing literature, and cutting-edge empirical evidence to present an authoritative contribution to the field of party systems. Webb rigorously explores the different types of party systems that exist, the role of socio-political cleavages and electoral systems in shaping them, their evolution over time, and their significance for government and the wider functioning of democracy. Key Features: Discusses the ways in which social and institutional factors shape party systems; Provides a rich conspectus of the different party systems which exist across the democratic world today; Examines the connections between party organisation and party systems using diverse real-world examples; Explores the impact of multi-partyism and ideological polarisation on governmental stability and the role these issues play in shaping government performance and political legitimacy. Both stimulating and incisive, the Advanced Introduction to Party Systems will be an indispensable read for academics and students in politics and public policy, political geography and geopolitics, international relations, and leadership studies. It will also be a fundamental resource for policy makers and practitioners wanting to better understand party systems today."--Publisher's website.