A Theory of Parties and Electoral Systems
About this eBook
Political parties and elections are the mainsprings of modern democracy. In this classic volume, Richard S. Katz explores the problem of how a given electoral system affects the role of political parties and the way in which party members are elected. He develops and tests a theory of the differences in the cohesion, ideological behavior, and issue orientation of Western parliamentary parties on the basis of the electoral systems under which they compete. A standard in the field of political theory and thought, The Theory of Parties and the Electoral System contributes to a better understanding of parliamentary party structures and demonstrates the wide utility of the rationalistic approach for explaining behavior derived from the self-interest of political actors.
About the author
Richard S. Katz is a professor of political science at the Johns Hopkins University. He is the author, coauthor, or coeditor of several books, including Political Institutions in the United States; Party Governments: European and American Experiences; The Patron State: Government and the Arts in Europe, North America, and Japan; and Handbook of Party Politics. He is also coeditor of the European Journal of Political Research.
