ABSTRACT
This chapter gives a necessary background to the analysis of post-crises politics in Iceland by outlining some major characteristics of the development of Icelandic society and the political system in the 20th and 21st centuries. Gradual changes from a strongly state-centred patronage system towards a liberal market system are analysed, as well as the Icelandic party system, the traditional four parties that dominated politics for decades, increasing fragmentation, left–right positions of parties, turnout, recruitment of MPs, electoral volatility, the electoral system, the open coalition system, candidate selection, membership of parties, party financing and women’s representation in parliament. The question of whether Icelandic politics have been characterised by conflict or consensus, ideology or pragmatism is also addressed.
