What do Beppe Grillo, Silvio Berlusconi, Emmanuel Macron (and also Donald Trump) have in common? They are prime examples of the personalization of politics and the decline of political parties. This volume systematically examines these two prominent developments in contemporary democratic politics and the relationship between them. It presents a cross-national comparative comparison that covers around 50 years in 26 democracies through the use of more than 20 indicators. It offers the most comprehensive comparative cross-national estimation of the variance in the levels and patterns of party change and political personalization among countries to date, using existing works as well injecting fresh cross-national comparative data. In the case of party change, it offers an analysis that extends beyond the dichotomous debate of party decline versus party adaptation. In the matter of political personalization, the emphasis on variance helps in bridging between the high theoretical expectations and disappointing empirical findings. As for the theoretically sound linkage between the two phenomena, not only is this the first study to comprise a comprehensive cross-national examination, but it also proposes a more nuanced understanding of this relationship. Comparative Politics is a series for researchers, teachers, and students of political science that deals with contemporary government and politics. Global in scope, books in the series are characterised by a stress on comparative analysis and strong methodological rigour. The series is published in association with the European Consortium for Political Research. For more information visit: www.ecprnet.eu. The series is edited by Emilie van Haute, Professor of Political Science, Universite libre de Bruxelles; Ferdinand Muller-Rommel, Director of the Center for the Study of Democracy, Leuphana University; and Susan Scarrow, John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Political Science, University of Houston.

From Party Politics to Personalized Politics?: Party Change and Political Personalization in Democracies (Comparative Politics)

Rahat, Gideon

Kenig, Ofer

Legal Theory & Systems

Oxford University Press

Can too much participation harm democracy? Democratic theory places great importance upon the conduct of elections, but it is not often recognized that the electoral game takes place in two arenas, not only between parties but also within them. This pioneering book presents a new approach to understanding political parties. It sheds light on the inner dynamics of party politics and offers the first comprehensive analysis of one of the most important processes any party undertakes--its process of candidate selection. Candidate selection methods are the mechanisms by which a party chooses its candidates for the general elections. It may be the function that separates parties from other organizations. For such an important function, this field has certainly faced a dearth of serious investigation. Hazan and Rahat, the leading scholars on this topic, conduct an in-depth analysis of the consequences of different candidate selection methods on democracy. Democracy within Parties is a culmination of almost two decades of research and defines the field of candidate selection. Comparative Politics is a series for students, teachers, and researchers of political science that deals with contemporary government and politics. Global in scope, books in the series are characterised by a stress on comparative analysis and strong methodological rigour. The series is published in association with the European Consortium for Political Research. For more information visit www.essex.ac.uk/ecpr (http://www.essex.ac.uk/ecpr) The General Editor is Professor David M. Farrell, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin.

Democracy within Parties: Candidate Selection Methods and their Political Consequences (Comparative Politics)

Reference

Hazan, Reuven Y.

Words, Language & Grammar

The Promise and Challenge of Party Primary Elections: A Comparative Perspective

While primary elections are most often associated with presidential candidates in the United States, similar methods for selecting party leaders and candidates are becoming increasingly common in parliamentary democracies around the world. The Promise and Challenge of Party Primary Elections introduces the first comprehensive examination of both the concept and the practice of primary elections outside of the United States. By offering a clear definition of primary elections and examples of their types, the authors deliver the tools needed for comparative analysis within and across diverse party systems. Focusing their attention on Canada and Israel - two early adopters of primary elections - the authors unveil the most pressing challenges of conducting internal elections, including questions of financing, monitoring and oversight, and the recruitment of new party members. At the same time, the book highlights the democratic benefits of primaries through direct and widespread participation in internal party decision making. Drawing upon the experience of parties with a long history of primary elections, The Promise and Challenge of Party Primary Elections offers valuable lessons and insights for parties around the world in search of more open and inclusive democratic practices.

Cross, William P.

Pruysers, Scott

McGill-Queen's University Press

The Politics of Regime Structure Reform in Democracies: Israel in Comparative and Theoretical Perspective (Suny Series in Israeli Studies)

Analyzes initiatives aimed at reforming the electoral and government systems of Israel in comparison to other established democracies.

The Politics of Regime Structure Reform in Democracies: Israel in Comparative and Theoretical Perspective (Suny Israeli Studies)

History

Middle East

State Univ of New York Pr

Analyzes initiatives aimed at  reforming the electoral and government systems of Israel in comparison to other  established democracies.This  book examines the success or failure of initiatives aimed at reforming regime  structures in democracies, particularly their electoral and government systems.  Through a comparative analysis of the several attempts at this type of reform  in Israel over more than four decades, Gideon Rahat begins with the failed  attempts at electoral reform in the 1970s and 1980s. He then analyzes Israel’s successful  attempt at promoting government system reform from 1988 to 1992. Finally, he  compares the Israeli cases to cases of electoral reform in New Zealand, Japan,  and Italy in the 1990s. While the book focuses on the Israeli cases, it places  Israel within a comparative framework and makes an important contribution to  the debate concerning the politics behind regime structure reform.“Thoroughly  researched and carefully analyzed, this impressive piece of scholarship on  party systems and electoral reform will be invaluable for academics,  politicians, and policy makers working in this field. For scholars of Israel especially,  this book will play an important role in explaining the country’s unique  electoral history and its various experiments with electoral reform.” —  John C. Courtney, author of Elections “Rahat finds  just the right balance between the larger theoretical and comparative questions  and an informed, detailed analysis of the Israeli experience. This is no simple  accomplishment, and he is to be congratulated on the achievement.” — Asher  Arian, author of Politics in Israel: The  Second Republic, Second Edition

State University of New York Press

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