ABSTRACT
The comparative study of intraparty conflicts and coalition bargaining in nine European parties has attempted to demonstrate that, contrary to the traditional argument according to which the more centralised the party structure the easier it is for the party to remain in the coalition, the case cannot be made for an equivalent comparison when one breaks free from the assumption that a party is a unitary actor. Taking seriously the view that internal relationships are not only a matter of democracy but also a matter of manageability, this study bears out this argument in detail. But, an extended view can emphasise the fact that our conclusion bore a direct impact on coalition stability. The first priority must be to anticipate possible criticisms of the theoretical framework and to answer these with a restatement of its logic.
