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Political Parties and their Evolution

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Elections, Parties and Representation in Post-Communist Europe

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Abstract

The previous regime cast a long shadow on the development of competitive party politics after the fall of communism. ‘Party’ evoked all the negative connotations of communist control and manipulation, especially in Central Europe. Politics was seldom equated with the art of compromise and negotiation. Yet the new institution-builders recognised the ubiquity of political parties in modern democracies and what is more, the absence of any obvious alternative. When elections became the key to political power, groups of aspiring politicians set out to mobilise the population. In the absence of a developed space between the public and private spheres, these groups bridged the gap. Politics was of necessity élite-driven. The élites both reflected and shaped the political opportunity structure. They structured the choices available to voters. This chapter analyses the types of parties that emerged in post-communist states. It examines the bases on which aspiring élites sought electoral support. It centres on the post-communist menu of choice and its evolution. It demonstrates the diversity of ways in which parties adapted to the demands of political competition.

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  1. Department of Government, University of Essex, UK

    Frances Millard (Professor)

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© 2004 Frances Millard

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Millard, F. (2004). Political Parties and their Evolution. In: Elections, Parties and Representation in Post-Communist Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230000865_3

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