Party and ideological polarization, proximity and convergence: theorization in a two-party and multi- party electoral and government competition

Abstract

The article is dedicated to analyzing the logics and models of party and ideological polarization, proximity and convergence, in particular from a theoretical point of view for the conditions of bipartisan and multi-party electoral and government competition. It was stated that political parties, based on the constructions of their formation and functioning (in the struggle for power and being in power), are variational, since they are determined by different ideological positions in the left-right spectrum. Therefore, they are naturally characterized by covariance (coalitions) or opposition, which are tangential to such categories as party polarization, proximity and convergence. It is argued that it is always advisable to understand the expected number of parties in legislature and their ideological positioning in the left-right spectrum when assessing party competition. The relevance of this conclusion is enhanced from bipartism to multipartism, as well as from majoritarian electoral systems to proportional electoral systems, but in general it is reduced to the statement that the more parties are in party system, the greater is the expected ideological range of their party and ideological positioning in the left-right spectrum.