This new volume addresses a basic question: how and why have political parties in Southern Europe weakened between 1995-2005? To answer these questions, the authors analyze the transformations undergone by the two main parties in Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Cyprus (North and South) and Malta, focusing on key dimensions of change. For each political group, systematic analysis is delivered on: party rules and power relationships since the mid-1990s; party membership and leadership; the professionalization of communications; competitive strategies; and, party values and programmes....

This book examines in depth the impact of the EU on aspects of the quality of democracy in eight selected post-communist countries. Considering both the political and legal aspects of the dynamics among institutions and focussing on inter-institutional accountability, the book analyses how constitutional designs have been effectively implemented to achieve this, and to what extent this was the result of EU action.

In order to make a comparative assessment of the EU on democracies, the book features detailed case studies according to their different status vis-a-vis the EU,...

A collective work that deals with repressive institutions and human rights abuses as two dimensions of authoritarian legacies in southern European democracies.

In this major new work, based on an unprecedented range of empirical and theoretical reflection, Leonardo Morlino presents a broad-ranging and far-reaching analysis of the mechanisms and processes of democratization. Having reviewed the main theoretical positions in the literature, he goes on to discuss the key features required of a new definition of democracy and to highlight and discuss the existence of a new type of regime: the hybrid regime. The second and third parts of the book cover three geopolitical areas (Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Latin America) and examine the main...

This book examines in depth the impact of the EU on aspects of the quality of democracy in eight selected post-communist countries. Considering both the political and legal aspects of the dynamics among institutions and focussing on inter-institutional accountability, the book analyses how constitutional designs have been effectively implemented to achieve this, and to what extent this was the result of EU action.

In order to make a comparative assessment of the EU on democracies, the book features detailed case studies according to their different status vis-a-vis the EU,...

It has been argued that political parties are weakening. In Southern Europe, however, political parties have shown remarkable pragmatism. Not only have they played a crucial role in the installation and consolidation of democracy, mostly in the 1970s and 1980s, but they have also adapted to the aftermaths of severe political crises during the 1990s. Party Change in Southern Europe addresses a basic issue: Have parties in Southern Europe weakened over the decade 1995-2005? Or have they rather changed? And if so, how have they changed? To answer these questions the authors analyze the...