European Centre for Research on Federalism

Themen der Forschung [Research Issues]

Wahlverhalten und Parteienwettbewerb in regionalisierten Staaten

Daniel Hough / Charlie Jeffery

pp. 49-66

This chapter assesses the significance of regional parties in the party systems of contemporary Europe. We elaborate on two analytical approaches that purport to explain the existence of regional parties. Firstly, we assess the importance of societal cleavages  and particularly the centre-periphery cleavage  in shaping national party systems. We build on 'top down' approaches developed by political sociologists through the 1960s and 1970s to highlight the considerable barriers that have faced regional parties in their attempt to 'muscle into' national politics. Secondly, we assess the challenges that European party systems have faced in recent years and the increased opportunities that this has offered regional actors. Political parties have found it increasingly difficult to integrate dealigned electorates and the opportunities for smaller (regional, issue, right-wing, Green) parties to stabilise themselves in national party systems have subsequently increased.

Suggested citation for this article:
Hough, Daniel/Jeffery, Charlie 2004: Wahlverhalten und Parteienwettbewerb in regionalisierten Staaten, in: Europäisches Zentrum für Föderalismus-Forschung (ed.): Jahrbuch des Föderalismus 2004. Föderalismus, Subsidiarität und Regionen in Europa, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, p. 49-66.