ABSTRACT

Political Parties in Post-Communist Eastern Europe is the first textbook to survey the course of party developments in eastern Europe as a whole in the post-Communist period. This book relates the specifics of the post-communist situation to the broader picture of the early stages of party development in western Europe and also to contemporary models of party organisation in established democracies.
The book includes:
· a brief historical introduction to the context of post-communist change
· the process of competitive party formation and democratic elections
· the development of independent parties; their ideologies, and electoral volatility
· the structure and level of organisation developed by new parties
· an analysis of stable party systems which have emerged in eastern Europe and the contribution they make to emerging democracies in the region
Party Politics in Post-Communist Eastern Europe will be a comprehensive and invaluable resource, accessible to undergraduates of politics and European studies, as well as the non-specialist reader.

chapter 1|24 pages

Political change in eastern Europe

chapter 2|35 pages

Party origins and party development

Parties and movements in the founding elections

chapter 3|34 pages

Parties, elections and parliaments

Elections and party development

chapter 5|27 pages

Party systems and structures of representation

Party systems and post-communist politics

chapter 6|14 pages

Conclusion: political parties in contemporary eastern Europe

Party development in post-communist Europe