ABSTRACT
Dominant party systems are odd ducks that combine genuine electoral competition with the absence of turnover. In the world’s 16 dominant-party systems, opposition parties existed but failed consistently for decades. Nevertheless, challengers eventually triumphed and ended dominant-party rule in 12 countries spread across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Can any single approach explain dominant-party longevity and ultimate downfall across so many countries and such long periods of time?
