THE CROATIAN PARTY SYSTEM 1989-2002
THE CROATIAN PARTY SYSTEM 1989-2002

Author(s): Goran Čular
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Governance, Government/Political systems, Electoral systems
Published by: CEDET Centar za demokratsku tranziciju
Keywords: Party system; political parties; Croatia; elections; party competition; cleavages; political development
Summary/Abstract: The author follows the development of the party system in Croatia from its beginning up to the year 2000 through several periods: a) the formative period when all significant political parties emerged, b) the period of stabilization when the parties reached relatively stable inter-party relationships; and c) the period of confrontation when the conflict concerning the regime - opposition division, was manifested. The whole time, the Croatian political party system was developing as a type of predominant party system, with the HDZ as the dominant party, which determined the whole dynamics of the party system during the observed period. Existing relations are not only the expression of the present political situation but also the expression of the reinforcing and overlapping effects of two historical cleavages: territorial-cultural and ideological-cultural. The 2000 parliamentary elections did not only lead to a nominal change of government but also to an important restructuring of the party system, to a completely different way in which the government functioned and to an abandoning of the predominant type of system. This introduces the problem of finding a new political party balance, the further institutionalization of some parties and the opening up of new dimensions of party competition. Solutions to these concerns will show whether moderate or polarized pluralism will develop in Croatia.

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