On Riker's Theory of Political Succession

Abstract

Riker's view of the dynamical forces of political systems singles out disequilibrium, strategic voting and agenda‐manipulation as the pervasive features determining the nature of political change. We shall investigate these characteristics in some detail and thereafter evaluate the methodological aspects of Riker's theory. Some observations on the general relevance of the equilibrium analysis of multi‐dimensional spatial voting models for the study of political institutions are also made.