ABSTRACT
When and how party systems change or remain the same, with a particular emphasis on the British party system, is the central theme of this chapter. This question is both theoretically and instrumentally important for political scientists, sociologists and economists. Theoretically, the question is related to the general problem of state formation, and societal consolidation within the state and its political structure. It is also related to the development of political parties and their patterns of interaction. Instrumentally, when and how party systems change or remain the same reflects the reality of global changes, such as the technological and communication advancements during the last quarter century, domestic changes, such as demo-graphic and societal developments, and the growing centrality of political parties in liberal democracies.
