Party System Institutionalization and Consequences of Electoral Laws. Comparative Analysis Based on Materials from Post-Communist Countries Cover Image

Instytucjonalizacja systemów partyjnych a konsekwencje ordynacji wyborczych. Analiza porównawcza na materiale z krajów pokomunistycznych
Party System Institutionalization and Consequences of Electoral Laws. Comparative Analysis Based on Materials from Post-Communist Countries

Author(s): Wojciech Rafałowski
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Present Times (2010 - today)
Published by: Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN
Keywords: party systems; party system fragmentation; electoral systems; cleavage; institutionalization

Summary/Abstract: The paper discusses and analyses the link between party system institutionalization and the effects of electoral laws in post-communist countries. Empirical studies show that the occurrence and strength of the psychological and mechanical effects of electoral laws change as time passes since the fall of communism and party systems become more institutionalized. The psychological effect (strategic voting) does not occur in the first decade after the transition to democracy and the mechanical effect performs a primary role in reducing the party system complexity. In the second decade, strategic voting reveals its significance and the mechanical effect weakens.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 37
  • Page Range: 139-160
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: Polish