Parties under Pressure

More about the book

The book explores the differing abilities of political parties, particularly Christian Democracy, to adapt to changing social, economic, and political landscapes. It highlights how some parties successfully evolve while others face decline, paving the way for radical movements and threatening liberal democracy. By integrating party politics with institutional theory, it underscores the role of party factions in fostering innovation and warns against excessive factionalism. Extensive archival research from Germany, Italy, and Austria, along with cases from France and Japan, supports its findings on party adaptation over 75 years.