Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T18:11:25.304Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Governments and supporting parties: what relationship can one expect in the 21st Century

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2009

J. Blondel
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In parliamentary systems, the link between governments and the parties supporting them is typically regarded as being so strong that the expression ‘party government’ has been coined to refer to this type of relationship. Yet, in practice, there are major variations between the two ‘sides’: these relate to possible reciprocal influence on three planes, those of appointments, of policy-making, and of patronage. Contrary to what is often believed, governments often play a key part and supporting parties are forced, more or less reluctantly, to follow. This has led to doubts about the extent to which the relationship can ever be harmonious and even to the view, probably exaggerated, that it has become increasingly conflictual.

Type
Focus: The Future of Democracy in the New Millennium: Can Parties Respond to the Challenge?
Information
European Review , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , May 1998 , pp. 175 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © Academia Europaea 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Blondel, J. (1982) Organisation of Governments (London and Beverly Hills: Sage) 33–50.Google Scholar
2.Namier, L. (1957) The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (Manchester: Manchester University Press).Google Scholar
3.The Federalist Papers (1787), Everyman Edition (1911) (London: Dent) Letter X.Google Scholar
4.Mackintosh, J. P. (1962) The British Cabinet, (London: Stevens) 72.Google Scholar
5.Coppedge, M. (1994) Strong Parties and Lame Ducks: Presidential Patriarchy and Factionalism in Venezuela, (Stanford: Stanford University Press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Castles, F. G. and Wildenmann, R. (eds) (1986) Visions and Realities of Party Government, (Berlin: De Gruyter).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Rose, R. (1974) The Problem of Party Government (London: Macmillan).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Ostrogorski, M. (1962) Democracy and the Organisation of Political Parties, 2 vols., (New York: Macmillan).Google Scholar
9.Michels, R., (1962) Political Parties (New York: Free Press).Google Scholar
10.Katz, R. S., (1986) party government: a rationalistic conception. in Castles, F. G. and Wildenmann, R. (eds), Visions and Realities of Party Government, (Berlin: De Gruyter), 31–69.Google Scholar
11.Strom, K., (1984) Minority governemtns in parliamentary democracies. Comp. Pol. Stud. 17, 199–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Strom, K. (1990) Minority Government and Majority Rule, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).Google Scholar
13.Downs, A. (1957) An Economic Theory of Democracy (New York: Harper).Google Scholar