The Shaping of the Polish Party System, 1989-93
The Shaping of the Polish Party System, 1989-93
Author(s): Frances MillardSubject(s): Political history, Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Post-Communist Transformation
Published by: SAGE Publications Ltd
Keywords: Poland; party system; 1989-1993; fall of Communist party; political history; postcommunist transformation; electoral system;
Summary/Abstract: A new Polish Party system has gradually been taking shape since major tremors rocked the Communist system in 1988, and a party system is defined first and foremost by its political parties and the pattern of their interaction. The number of parties is one distinguishing feature, but other factors include their relative strengths, the ideological spectrum along which they position themselves, their coalition potential, and their internal cohesion. Already we can identify a number of stages in the evolution of the new Polish party system. The early period was marked by an absence of stability regarding all of these factors. The first phase, the destruction of the Communist hegemonic party system, was short-lived. It began with the strikes of May 1988, which were ultimately to result in the Round Table negotiations and the election of June 1989. [...]
Journal: East European Politics and Societies
- Issue Year: 08/1994
- Issue No: 03
- Page Range: 467-494
- Page Count: 28
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF