Summary: Hc3_Comparativepartysystems

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• 1 Party Systems

• 1.1 Why political parties?

• Why are political parties necessary? Are they mentioned in constitutions?

  Political parties are necessary, because ...
  

  • Coherent policy platform
  • Organizing political participation

  Facilitation of policy implementation
  
  But: they are not mentioned in constitutions  

• 1.2 Party systems

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• Which five kinds of party systems do we see according to Jean Blondel (1966)?

  1. Non-partisan
     
  2. One-party
  3. Dominant-party
  4. Two-party
  5. Multiparty

• 1.2.1 Non-partisan party systems

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• What are two defining characteristics of non-partisan party systems?

  • Parties forbidden by law or not formed
    
  • Only independent legislators 

• 1.2.2 One-party systems

• What are the two defining characteristic of a one-party system?

  • Only one party is legal;
    
  • Exclusively found in autocratic regimes.

• Can small parties exist in a one-party system?

  Yes, for example China. These parties are however not independent and operate under strict control of the dominant party. They serve more as a 'decorative democracy'.

• 1.2.3 Dominant-party system

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• What is the difference between a one-party and dominant-party system?

  The crux we find in the legality: a one-party system doesn't allow multiple parties, a dominant party-system does allow multiple parties but de facto there is one party taking other means to hold onto power.

• Give a historical, democratic, example of a dominant party system?

  Japan: 1955-1993

• 1.2.4 Two-party system

• How do we recognize a two-party system? Give an obvious example.

  Lots of political parties, but only two of them are effectively able to gain political power.
  
  Obvious examples: US, UK, Jamaica

• 1.2.5 Multiparty system

• What is the difference between a two-party and a multi-party system? Give examples

  In multiparty systems coalition-formation is necessary to gain political power, like: Belgium, Netherlands, Israel, Germany, Sweden ...

• 1.3 Effective number of parties

• What is the mathematical formula for the effective number of parties N?

  ; n = total number of parties
  ; vi = votes or seat shares of the parties