Magnus Hagevi, Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, Linnaeus University, Sofie Blombäck, Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Marie Demker, Professor of Political Science and Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Jonas Hinnfors, Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg and Karl Loxbo, Associate Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, Stockholm University, Sweden

‘An innovative study of the changing forces reshaping party competition in Western Europe, the authors argue that electoral realignment, combined with globalization’s constraints on national politics, provide new challenges for political parties in representative democracies. The book will be essential reading for students of elections and political parties.’

• Contents: Preface 1. A crisis for representative democracy? An introduction 2. Selected countries and party systems: similarities and contrasts 3. Empirical approach to studying party system change: data and measurements 4. Ideological contestation in Western European party systems 5. Conflict levels in Western European party systems 6. Parties, voters, and representation 7. Public policies and globalization 8. Conclusions: polarizing party systems and converging policymaking References Index

Magnus Hagevi, Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, Linnaeus University, Sofie Blombäck, Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Marie Demker, Professor of Political Science and Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Jonas Hinnfors, Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg and Karl Loxbo, Associate Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, Stockholm University, Sweden

‘An innovative study of the changing forces reshaping party competition in Western Europe, the authors argue that electoral realignment, combined with globalization’s constraints on national politics, provide new challenges for political parties in representative democracies. The book will be essential reading for students of elections and political parties.’

• Contents: Preface 1. A crisis for representative democracy? An introduction 2. Selected countries and party systems: similarities and contrasts 3. Empirical approach to studying party system change: data and measurements 4. Ideological contestation in Western European party systems 5. Conflict levels in Western European party systems 6. Parties, voters, and representation 7. Public policies and globalization 8. Conclusions: polarizing party systems and converging policymaking References Index

Magnus Hagevi, Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, Linnaeus University, Sofie Blombäck, Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Marie Demker, Professor of Political Science and Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Jonas Hinnfors, Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg and Karl Loxbo, Associate Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, Stockholm University, Sweden

‘An innovative study of the changing forces reshaping party competition in Western Europe, the authors argue that electoral realignment, combined with globalization’s constraints on national politics, provide new challenges for political parties in representative democracies. The book will be essential reading for students of elections and political parties.’

• Contents: Preface 1. A crisis for representative democracy? An introduction 2. Selected countries and party systems: similarities and contrasts 3. Empirical approach to studying party system change: data and measurements 4. Ideological contestation in Western European party systems 5. Conflict levels in Western European party systems 6. Parties, voters, and representation 7. Public policies and globalization 8. Conclusions: polarizing party systems and converging policymaking References Index