scholarly journals Estonia’s party system today: electoral turbulence and changes in ethno-regional patterns

Baltic Region ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-15
Author(s):  
Petr V. Oskolkov
Keyword(s):  
Party System ◽  
General Structure ◽  
Coalition Building ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
New Parties ◽  
Geographical Patterns ◽  
Systemic Analysis ◽  
Geographical Factors ◽  
Structure Problem ◽  
Electoral Behaviour

A well-developed party system has emerged in Estonia over the decades of independence. There are, however, distinct geographical patterns of voting. A number of new political parties have appeared in the country; the regional and ethnic patterns of voting (the latter matter much in Estonia) have changed dramatically. This study aims to analyse the recent changes in the Estonian party system as well as the causes of these changes and the effect of the ethnic and geographical factors on the transformation of the electoral behaviour of Estonian citizens. The research employs a systemic approach that makes it possible to solve the agent—structure problem to the benefit of the general structure and integral system of Estonia’s party scene. The method of comparative systemic analysis is used alongside those adopted in electoral geography. It is concluded that the effect of the ethnic and geographical factors on electoral behaviour is diminishing as a civil society based on civic rather than ethnic principles is emerging in the country. The main drivers of the change are the formation of new parties and coalition-building — both have an immediate effect on how the image of the parties is perceived by voters.

Regionalism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwang-Il Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Party System ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Electoral Behaviour ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Level Of Analysis

This chapter examines regional division, or regionalism, in South Korea, a dominant factor determining the country’s politics. The conceptual definition of regionalism in the context of South Korean politics refers to regional patterns of voting behaviour, with voters deciding their vote based on their birthplace. But regionalism has been also understood from different perspectives focusing on its history, public emotional antagonism, regional party system, etc. This chapter elaborates the origins of regionalism and conceptualizes regionalism according to the level of analysis and the domain of its manifestation. The chapter then promotes the theoretical understanding of regionalism by drawing on prejudice, social identity, and cleavage theory. It argues that the regional cleavage based on birthplace-based regional prejudice and identity that have determined electoral behaviour and party system will not change significantly in the near future. The chapter concludes with a discussion of recent developments in regionalism.

scholarly journals Springing up like mushrooms after the rain: „New” parties in Montenegro’s institutionalised party system

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-185
Author(s):  
Nemanja Stankov
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Identity Politics ◽  
Party System ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Party Competition ◽  
Coalition Building ◽  
New Parties ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
Limited Degree

AbstractRecent years have seen the formation of new parties across Europe that challenge established patterns of party competition and coalition-building during elections. While a similar trend of party creation has occurred in Montenegro, these new parties have failed to „deinstitutionalise” the party system. This article tracks the development process for new parties. At the same time, it looks at factors and settings that have enabled (or impeded) the institutionalisation of these parties and their relative success in parliamentary elections. Two peculiar findings arise from my analysis. First, it appears that the fragmentation of the traditional party system has only happened among opposition parties (with the notable exception of a split among social democrats). This raises questions about the reasons for this process and its effect on party competition. It also leads to a second finding: though more than five effective political parties have been created since 2012, they have failed to change established party competition. To a limited degree, these parties have shifted the focus of public debate from identity politics to the economy, but the party system remains highly ientrenched. In other words, coalition-building is as predictable as ever.

Populist Parties in Lithuania: Curious Case of Party Order and Justice and its Leadership

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mindaugas Jurkynas
Keyword(s):  
Party System ◽  
Leadership Selection ◽  
Political Careers ◽  
New Parties ◽  
Selection Rules ◽  
Electoral Support ◽  
The Face

AbstractThe article discusses conceptualisation of populism, Lithuania’s party system and electoral dynamics and their relation to the sustainability of populist parties. Special attention is given to Party Order and Justice, a former populist and protest party, and its leadership, namely to the issues related to scope and competencies of a leader’s intra-partisan power, leadership selection rules and history, development of leaders’ political careers and their electoral activity. The L ithuanian party system now exhibits moderate fragmentation without centrifugal tendencies. Voter volatility is still relatively high, yet the share of new parties has dropped to zero. The protest and populist parties in Lithuania went into the margins of political establishment. Popularity of the Order and Justice party has long been connected to the formerly impeached president Rolandas Paksas. His long-term leadership in the face of plummeting electoral support and an emphasis on his political martyrdom resulted in poor electoral performances, ensuing internal squabbles and his departure. Party Order and Justice’s internal regulations, however, remained favourable to strong leadership.

Why Two Parties? Ambition, Policy, and the Presidency

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Aldrich ◽  
Daniel J. Lee
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Party System ◽  
National Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Party Competition ◽  
Party Affiliation ◽  
New Parties ◽  
The Us ◽  
Duverger's Law ◽  
National Electorate

Duverger’s Law suggests that two parties will dominate under first-past-the-post (FPTP) within an electoral district, but the law does not necessarily establish two-party competition at the national level. United States is unique among FPTP countries in having the only durable and nearly pure, two-party system. Following this observation, we answer two questions. First, what contributes to the same two parties competing in districts all across the country and at different levels of office? Second, why is the US two-party system so durable over time, dominated by the same two parties? That is, “Why two parties?” As an answer, we propose the APP: ambition, the presidency, and policy. The presidency with its national electorate and electoral rules that favor two-party competition establishes two national major parties, which frames the opportunity structure that influences party affiliation decisions of ambitious politicians running for lower offices. Control over the policy agenda helps reinforce the continuation of a particular two-party system in equilibrium by blocking third parties through divergence on the main issue dimension and the suppression of latent issue dimensions that could benefit new parties. The confluence of the three factors explains why the United States is so uniquely a durable two-party system.

scholarly journals FEATURES OF THE FORMATION OF THE PARTY SYSTEM OF MODERN UKRAINE

2018 ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
Іvan Pobochiy
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Party System ◽  
Political Orientation ◽  
The State ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Struggle ◽  
National Interests ◽  
New Parties ◽  
The Public

The level of social harmony in society and the development of democracy depends to a large extent on the level of development of parties, their ideological and political orientation, methods and means of action. The purpose of the article is to study the party system of Ukraine and directions of its development, which is extremely complex and controversial. The methods. The research has led to the use of such scientific search methods as a system that allowed the party system of Ukraine to be considered as a holistic organism, and the historical and political method proved to be very effective in analyzing the historical preconditions and peculiarities of the formation of the party system. The results. The incompetent, colonial past and the associated cruel national oppression, terror, famine, and violent Russification caused the contradictory and dramatic nature of modernization, the actual absence of social groups and their leaders interested in it, and the relatively passive reaction of society to the challenges of history. Officials have been nominated by mafia clans, who were supposed to protect their interests and pursue their policies. Political struggle in the state took place not between influential political parties, but between territorial-regional clans. The party system of Ukraine after the Maidan and the beginning of the war on the Donbass were undergoing significant changes. On the political scene, new parties emerged in the course of the protests and after their completion — «Petro Poroshenko Bloc», «People’s Front», «Self-help»), which to some extent became spokespeople for not regional, but national interests. Pro-European direction is the main feature of the leading political parties that have formed a coalition in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Conclusion. The party system of Ukraine as a result of social processes is at the beginning of a new stage in its development, an important feature of which is the increase in the influence of society (direct and indirect) on the political life of the state. Obviously, there is a demand from the public for the emergence of new politicians, new leaders and new political forces that citizens would like to see first and foremost speakers and defenders of their interests.

Parties and party system change

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise Storm
Keyword(s):  
Party System ◽  
Arab Spring ◽  
System Change ◽  
New Parties ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
Coalition Structures ◽  
Measure Change ◽  
Effective Number Of Parties ◽  
Number Of Parties ◽  
The Arab Spring

This chapter examines parties and party system change across the MENA countries since December 2010. The discussion begins with a brief overview of party systems in the region on the eve of the Arab Spring, thereby providing a quick introduction to the selected cases as well as a benchmark against which to measure change. Party system change is determined via indicators such as the effective number of parties, party system fragmentation, electoral volatility and the entry of new parties into the system. The analysis of the indicators of party system change is coupled with a discussion of empirical data on the political environment during and in the immediate aftermath of the elections, including issues such as regime classification, rotation of power, coalition structures, prohibited parties, and societal cleavages. The author explains how - despite the fact that some old regimes fell and elections were held - the traditionally dominant or hegemonic political parties stayed preeminent in a number of MENA countries. Finally, this chapter shows what party system change tells us about the prospects for democracy some five years after the outbreak of the Arab Spring.

scholarly journals Where Do Distrusting Voters Turn if There is No Viable Exit or Voice Option? The Impact of Political Trust on Electoral Behaviour in the Belgian Regional Elections of June 2009

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Hooghe ◽  
Sofie Marien ◽  
Teun Pauwels
Keyword(s):  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Party System ◽  
Political Trust ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Compulsory Voting ◽  
Political Distrust ◽  
French Speaking ◽  
Electoral Behaviour ◽  
Regional Elections ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIt has been suggested that political distrust is associated with lower levels of voter turnout and increased votes for challenger or populist parties. We investigate the relationship between political (dis)trust and electoral behaviour using the 2009 Belgian Election Study. Belgium presents an interesting case because compulsory voting (with an accompanying turnout rate of 90.4 per cent) compels distrusting voters to participate in elections. Nevertheless, distrusting voters are significantly more inclined to cast a blank or invalid vote. Second, distrust is positively associated with a preference for extreme right (Vlaams Belang) and populist (Lijst Dedecker) parties. Third, in party systems where there is no supply of viable challengers (i.e. the French-speaking region of Belgium), the effect of political trust on party preference is limited. We conclude that electoral effects of political distrust are determined by the electoral and party system and the supply of electoral protest.

The post-crisis Irish voter

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Party System ◽  
Party Systems ◽  
New Parties ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
University Courses ◽  
National Election Study ◽  
History Of ◽  
Established Democracies ◽  
Unique Dataset ◽  
Cross National

This is the definitive study of the Irish general election of 2016 – the most dramatic election in a generation, which among other things resulted in the worst electoral outcome for Ireland’s established parties, the most fractionalized party system in the history of the state, and the emergence of new parties and groups, some of these of a ‘populist’ hue. This was one of the most volatile elections in Ireland (and among one of the most volatile elections in Europe), with among the lowest of election turnouts in the state’s history. These outcomes follow a pattern seen across a number of Western Europe’s established democracies in which the ‘deep crisis’ of the Great Recession has wreaked havoc on party systems. The objective of this book is to assess this most extraordinary of Irish elections both in its Irish and wider cross-national context. With contributions from leading scholars on Irish elections and parties, and using a unique dataset – the Irish National Election Study (INES) 2016 – this volume explores voting patterns at Ireland’s first post crisis election and it considers the implications for the electoral landscape and politics in Ireland. This book will be of interest to scholars of parties and elections. It should provide important supplementary reading to any university courses on Irish politics. And it should also be of interest to general readers interested in contemporary Irish affairs.

Spatio-temporal Patterns of the Precipitation Response to Aerosol Perturbations from an Energetic Perspective

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shipeng Zhang ◽  
Philip Stier ◽  
Duncan Watson-Parris ◽  
Guy Dagan
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transport ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Radiative Cooling ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Geographical Patterns ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Absorbing Aerosols ◽  
Global Mean

<p>Absorbing and non-absorbing aerosols have distinct effects on both global-mean and regional precipitation. Local changes of precipitation in response to aerosol perturbations are more complex than global-mean changes, which are strongly constrained by global energy budget. This work examines the changes of atmospheric energetic budget terms to study effects of large perturbations in black carbon (BC) and sulphate (SUL) on precipitation. Both cases show decrease of global-mean precipitation but with different geographical patterns. Decreased atmospheric radiative cooling contributes to the majority of decreased global-mean precipitation. It is caused by increased aerosols absorption in BC case but decreased cooling from clean-clear sky (without clouds and aerosols) in SUL case. Fast responses, which are independent of changes in sea surface temperature (SST), dominate the precipitation changes in the BC case, not only for global mean but also for regional patterns. Slow responses, which are mediated by changes in SST, dominate the precipitation responses in SUL case, both globally and regionally.</p><p> </p><p>Relationships between temporal responses of local precipitation and diabatic cooling and precipitation are also examined for both BC and SUL perturbations. Both cases show remarkable similar pattern of correlations despite of essentially different patterns of changes in precipitation and diabatic cooling. Strong positive correlations are found over mid-latitude land and this is mainly due to the changes from surface sensible heat fluxes. Negative correlations are found over tropical oceans, mainly contributed by (longwave) radiative cooling from clouds and clean-clear sky. Further analysis shows this similarity is caused by the natural variability which is independent from external forcing. It indicates that the temporal relationship between changes in local precipitation and diabatic cooling is forcer-independent. This correlation is examined as a function of increasing spatial scales, which demonstrates the scale at which the dominating energetic term on regional precipitation shifts from energy transport to atmospheric diabatic cooling.</p>

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