Electoral systems and party systems in Europe East and West

Abstract

This article assesses the differences in the design of electoral institutions and electoral outcomes in 20 Eastern and 20 Western European democracies. It finds broad similarities between the types of electoral systems that have been adopted in the two parts of the continent. The size and shape of the party systems that have been generated by these systems are also similar overall. Yet statistical analysis demonstrates that the electoral systems of Eastern Europe are doing far more ‘work’ than their Western counterparts to reduce the size of party systems, and that they are more likely to use exclusionary thresholds to achieve this end than manipulation of constituency size. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed with reference to the factors that impinge on electoral system design.