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The Social and Attitudinal Basis of Political Parties: Cleavage Politics Revisited

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2008

Zsolt Enyedi*
Affiliation:
Central European University, Political Science Department, Nador u. 9, 1051, Budapest, Hungary

Abstract

As a result of various political and non-political developments, the socio-culturally anchored and well structured character of European party systems has come under strain. This article assesses the overall social embeddedness of modern party politics and identifies newly emerging conflict-lines. It draws attention to phenomena that do not fit into the trend of dealignment, and discusses the relationship between group-based politics and democratic representation.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Academia Europaea 2008

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References

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