ABSTRACT
Although the literature on democratic consolidation suggests that political parties and their party systems are key players (see Birch 2003, Clapham 1993, Diamond 1989, Mainwaring and Scully 1995), three problems persist. First, few studies distinguish between party institutionalisation, on the one hand, and party system institutionalisation on the other (for exceptions, see Bértoa 2011, Randall and Svasand 2002 b). Secondly, even when party system institutionalisation is explicitly considered, party–regime and the inter-party relationships are overlooked. Finally, very few studies look at the effects of party system institutionalisation on democratic consolidation.
