NationStates Jolt Archive

this is the topic of one of my seminars tomorrow, and i wondered what other people's thoughts might be on the matter (serious debate...for a change (for me ;) ))

'Most party systems in Western Europe are fundamentally bipolar.' Discuss

and by bipolar, i understand 'having two parties/idologies' is meant.
enjoy!

I don't have to do European Politics anymore :p

I don't have to do European Politics anymore :p
bastard.

http://outsetmedia.com/Images/Main%20Page%20Images/Tah%20Dah%20Games/BUMP-L.gif
creative, no? :D

I never had to do European Politics. :p

'Most party systems in Western Europe are fundamentally bipolar.' Discuss
No different than in America, I guess . . . let's break the 2-party system!

Sweden has many major parties and a 4%-requirement for a party to have representation in the "Riksdag" (House of representatives?).

We have had coalitional governments for years now, right now the social democratic party, the left-wing party and the enviromentalist party are in power. When no party alone recieves more than 50% of the vote, the parties have to make coalitions with other parties so their total exceeds 50%, and then make decisions together.

Oh, and for the record, the parties who have representation are Moderaterna (right-wing), Folkpartiet (right-wing), Miljöpartiet (enviromentalist), Centerpartiet (centrist), Socialdemokraterna (left wing), Vänsterpartiet (left-wing) and Kristdemokraterna (right-wing)

Sweden has many major parties and a 4%-requirement for a party to have representation in the "Riksdag" (House of representatives?).

We have had coalitional governments for years now, right now the social democratic party, the left-wing party and the enviromentalist party are in power. When no party alone recieves more than 50% of the vote, the parties have to make coalitions with other parties so their total exceeds 50%, and then make decisions together.

That's pretty much the same system they had in Germany in the 20s. Not to put a crimp on things. I despise the two-party system as much as the next man, but I'm not going to talk about it as that way Metal doesn't need to get out of bed to go to his lecture, but I still have to get up and go to work. Scavenging students. Grrr. ;)

While Britian has only bounced between a Labour and Conservative government for most of the last century (The Liberals at the begining, now Lib Dems), the Liberal Democrats are becoming more of a significent threat to both parties since the Brent East by-election

That's pretty much the same system they had in Germany in the 20s. Not to put a crimp on things. I despise the two-party system as much as the next man, but I'm not going to talk about it as that way Metal doesn't need to get out of bed to go to his lecture, but I still have to get up and go to work. Scavenging students. Grrr. ;)

damn, saw through my ill-disguised plan ;)

cheers Jokath - helpful stuff. been reading about sweden but i didn't know what you said. thanks :)

In Britain there are many parties representing many different idealogies but only two have any chance of ever being elected.

In Britain there are many parties representing many different idealogies but only two have any chance of ever being elected.
to all - especially New British Glory and Neo Cannen - i also live in britain :)
thanks all the same :)

In Scotland the two largest parties are Labour (centrist) and the Scottish National Party - SNP (moderate left-wing, non-racist nationalist) Smaller parties include the Conservatives (centre right), the Liberal Democrats (centrist), the Scottish Socialist Party - SSP (radical socialist) and the Greens (environmentalist). Currently there is a coalition government of Labour and the Liberal Democrats although hopefully at the next election in 2007 the three pro-independence parties - SNP, SSP and the Greens will win enough seats to form a coalition and take Scotland out of the UK.

http://www.trianglesigns.org/pictures/orangeco/carrboro/traffic-mgmt-bump.jpg

this is the topic of one of my seminars tomorrow, and i wondered what other people's thoughts might be on the matter (serious debate...for a change (for me ;) ))

'Most party systems in Western Europe are fundamentally bipolar.' Discuss

and by bipolar, i understand 'having two parties/idologies' is meant.
enjoy!


Portugal: Currently there are five different parties with seats in the parliament.

Currently, we are governed by a coalition of two right wing parties. This is about to change, since we are having elections this february 20th and a leftist party is about to win with absolute majority.

Answers your questions?

Portugal: Currently there are five different parties with seats in the parliament.

Currently, we are governed by a coalition of two right wing parties. This is about to change, since we are having elections this february 20th and a leftist party is about to win with absolute majority.

Answers your questions?
certainly helps. thanks :)

keep em coming... :p

Sorry, I don't know enough about European political parties to be able to knowledgeably comment. But I believe that their systems are generally multi-party, and that in many nations parties have to form coalitions in order to effectively govern.

er...what I really mean to say is...bump...

A lot of modern politics can be traced back to the division between the French Revolutionary spirit [leftists] and the reactionary forces that arose after Napoleon's defeat [rightists]. Because of this, politics in the West is EXTREMELY reactionary - one side makes gains, and everyone who disagrees or has something to gain from opposing those gains or rolling them back coalesces and reacts. This cycle has been going on ever since the Revolution in a very visible manner, beginning in France and then spreading across the entire Continent. It's an adversarial system that naturally creates a two-party system.

My thoughts, anyway.

'Most party systems in Western Europe are fundamentally bipolar.' Discuss

Hmm... No. Or at least, not in the Netherlands.

The current majority consists of three parties, a liberal right-wing one, a centrist Christian one, and a simply non-conservative centrist one.

The opposition consists of several left-wing ones, a couple of right-wing ones, a few one-issue parties and a bunch of religious ones.

The opposition parties bicker with each other about as much as they bicker with the majority coalition and the majority parties themselves have to tread carefully around each other, since a flaming row can and will cause the cabinet to fall.

So... no, not bipolar I'd say.

Sorry, I don't know enough about European political parties to be able to knowledgeably comment. But I believe that their systems are generally multi-party, and that in many nations parties have to form coalitions in order to effectively govern.

er...what I really mean to say is...bump...
Yep, multiparty here too. 3 biggest ones include one left-wing, one centre and one right-wing party (actually, they are all very similar). Since may 2003 our government has been a coalition of a Centre-party, Socialdemocrats and Swedish Folk Party (very small).