ABSTRACT
A systematic examination of the actors, arenas and levels of interaction in the Austrian party system provides the basis for understanding the nature of a party system, how these components affect the system and how resilient they are. Of particular importance in the Austrian case is the impact on the system of the various actors' strategies, the tensions evident between the different arenas, and the interaction of the different levels. Contrary to some interpretations, the Austrian party system is undergoing significant change, although it is restricted in its extent.
