Sources of Post-Communist Party System Consolidation

Abstract

What are the causes of party system consolidation in the postcommunist democracies? It is frequently hypothesized that differences in electoral systems and presidential powers help to explain variation in party system consolidation. In addition, it can be argued that the numbers and support levels of political parties should be affected by the ideological peculiarities of different countries' voting publics. Population size might also be expected to affect the ease with which additional party organizations can be developed and maintained. As far as the availability of data permit, we construct relevant institutional and ideological measures for all 23 post-communist democracies. Regression analysis shows that ideological concentration of electorates is the most consistent and powerful determinant of party system consolidation. Proportionality of electoral systems has a weaker tendency to reduce party system consolidation, while strength of the presidency and population size appear to have little or no impact. Future research should explore whether ideology has played a similar role in other regions. It might also examine the policy consequences of party system consolidation.