ABSTRACT
The Austrian party system indicates a number of striking features which make it stand out in a comparison of European party systems. 1 The following features are particularly noteworthy:
Concentration. In no other European multi-party system have the voters, on an average of many years, concentrated themselves on so few parties as in Austria. 2 This concentration is all the more striking because in Austria the principle of election by proportional representation is anchored in the Federal Constitutional Law and because this principle was additionally perfected through the election law reform of 1971.
Organization. In no other European multi-party system is such a high percentage of voters organized as members in political parties. 3 De pending on the method of counting and on consideration of the associated organizations, the degree of organization in Austria is between 30 and 40%.
Participation. Above and beyond the degree of organization, formal participation in the political process in Austria is strikingly high. 4 The degree of voter participation particularly in Austria is among the highest of the European multi-party systems.
