Political Parties in Post-Communist Eastern Europe

Political Parties in Post-Communist Eastern Europe is the first textbook to survey the course of party developments in eastern Europe as a whole in the post-Communist period. Firmly locating the political changes in eastern Europe in a comparative context, this book relates the specifics of the post-communist situation to the broader picture of the early stages of party development in western Europe and also to contemporary models of party organisation in established democracies. The book includes: a brief historical introduction to the context of post-communist change the process of competitive party formation and democratic elections the development of independent parties; their ideologies, and electoral volatility the structure and level of organisation developed by new parties an analysis of stable party systems which have emerged in eastern Europe and the contribution they make to emerging democracies in the region Whilst there are some similarities between party systems in eastern Europe with those of established democracies, this book reveals major organisational differences, and a higher level of instability which reflects the effects of social transformation. Party Politics in Post-Communist Eastern Europe will be a comprehensive and invaluable resource, accessible to undergraduates of politics and European studies, as well as the non-specialist reader.