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The German Party System: Continuity and Change

Saalfeld, Thomas (2002) The German Party System: Continuity and Change. German Politics, 11 (3). pp. 99-130. ISSN 0964-4008. (doi:10.1080/714001303) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:3708)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1080/714001303

Abstract

This article assesses continuity and change in the German party system since unification in 1990. From a methodological point of view, this presents a challenge, because there are at least three kinds of trends which are difficult to disentangle: (1) the direct effects of unification, (2) general longer-term trends independent of, but coinciding with, unification and, (3) indirect effects of unification (that is, for example, general trends accelerated or delayed by unification). In the absence of suitable statistical controls, it is not possible to determine the ‘net contribution’ of these different effects. Nevertheless, party and party system change in Germany since unification must be assessed against the backdrop of developments in comparable political systems in Western Europe in order to avoid conclusions based on spurious covariation.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/714001303
Uncontrolled keywords: Germany, party system, German unification, elections
Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
J Political Science > JN Political institutions and public administration (Europe)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Politics and International Relations
Depositing User: T.K. Saalfeld
Date Deposited: 20 May 2008 07:37 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2023 11:29 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/3708 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Saalfeld, Thomas.

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