The ‘Sociological Laws’ of Maurice Duverger: How They Evolved and Aspects of Methodology Cover Image

Takzvané „sociologické zákony“ Maurice Duvergera: jejich postupné formulování a jejich metodologické aspekty
The ‘Sociological Laws’ of Maurice Duverger: How They Evolved and Aspects of Methodology

Author(s): Miroslav Novák
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: AV ČR - Akademie věd České republiky - Sociologický ústav
Keywords: electoral systems; party systems; Duverger’s laws; mechanical effects; psychological effects; multiplication; coalitions; polarisation; bipolarity; multipolarity; rigidity; flexibility

Summary/Abstract: The author begins the article by calling attention to Duverger’s methodological principles, which he then draws on to analyse and interpret ‘Duverger’s laws’ concerning the effect electoral systems have on parties and party systems. Duverger’s classifi cation of party systems, which he asserts are closely linked to electoral systems, is dealt with in the conclusion of the article, where the author draws attention to the more elaborate version of the classification that is hinted at in parts of his 1951 book Les partis politiques and that he then formulated explicitly in 1960. The author compares this later version with Sartori’s famous typology of party systems.

  • Issue Year: 51/2015
  • Issue No: 01
  • Page Range: 3-39
  • Page Count: 37
  • Language: Czech