Party Systems in Post-Soviet Countries: A Comparative Study of Political Institutionalization in the Baltic States, Russia, and Ukraine [Hardcover]

This book conducts a comparative analysis of political institutions and develops rigorous methods suitable for cross-national longitudinal analysis. An examination of political party systems in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine shows striking differences of degrees and dynamics of political institutionalization in the five nations.Introduction PART I: MEASURING POLITICAL INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN THE BALTIC STATES, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE Conceptual Framework and Operational Indicators of Political Institutionalization Autonomy of the Party System: Recruitment into the Legislature Autonomy of the Party System: Patterns of Cabinet Formation Autonomy of the Party System: Regional Strength of Party Identification Stability of the Party System Measuring Political Institutionalization: Conclusion PART II: EXPLAINING POLITICAL INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN THE BALTIC STATES, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE The Role of the Old Communist Elites during the Formative Stage of the Party System Executive-Legislative Relations and the Party System Political Consequences of Electoral and Party Laws Parties of Power and the Party System Conclusion

A pathbreaking study that broadens our conceptual and empirical understanding of the comparative development of the party systems in five countries. Applying a sophisticated theoretical methodology, the work fills a major gap in the literature on the inter-relationship between institutions, elections and political outcomes.

- Richard Sakwa, University of Kent at Canterbury This volume provides a much-needed comparative analysis of party systems in five post-Soviet states. The analysis benefits from being theoretically informed, conceptually rigorous and systematic in its approach. It also contains a wealth of empirical data that will undoubtedly be of considerable use to other scholars. Meleshevich's systematic comparative approach to party-system institutionalization distinguishes it from much previous research and lCƒ