The Madisonian turn : political parties and parliamentary democracy in Nordic Europe / edited by Torbörn Bergman and Kaare Strom.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bergman, Torbjörn.

Strøm, Kaare.

Michigan Publishing (University of Michigan), publisher.

Series:

New comparative politics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cabinet system--Scandinavia.

Cabinet system.

Political parties--Scandinavia.

Political parties.

Legislative bodies--Scandinavia.

Legislative bodies.

Comparative government.

Scandinavia--Politics and government--1945-.

Scandinavia.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (428 p.)

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, c2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

" The Madisonian Turn is an outstanding assessment of the functioning of democratic institutions in the Nordic countries. If democracy is in trouble in Scandinavia, then it is surely facing problems everywhere, so the book will be read carefully by those concerned about contemporary governance in all modern democracies." ---Michael Gallagher, Trinity College, Dublin "This welcome and timely re-evaluation of Nordic politics constitutes a major contribution to comparative government, and is likely to stand as the definitive treatment of politics in the region for many years to come." ---Peter Mair, European University Institute "This book is unique in its comparative scope and the wealth of information on the state of parliamentary democracy in the Nordic countries. It is particularly useful for the comparativists who do not come from these countries, because the original literature which it covers in detail is often not accessible for the English-speaking audience." ---Hanspeter Kriesi, University of Zurich "The strength of The Madisonian Turn is to interface detailed empirical evidence on the dynamics of democratic politics in Scandinavia with an elaboration and test of rival theories of change in the politics of postindustrial democracies. This book is an inspiration for students of Northern Europe, but also for scholars of comparative legislatures and political parties more generally." ---Herbert Kitschelt, Duke University Parliamentary democracy is the most common regime type in the contemporary political world, but the quality of governance depends on effective parliamentary oversight and strong political parties. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden have traditionally been strongholds of parliamentary democracy. In recent years, however, critics have suggested that new challenges such as weakened popular attachment, the advent of cartel parties, the judicialization of politics, and European integration have threatened the institutions of parliamentary democracy in the Nordic region. This volume examines these claims and their implications. The authors find that the Nordic states have moved away from their previous resemblance to a Westminster model toward a form of parliamentary democracy with more separation-of-powers features---a Madisonian model. These features are evident both in vertical power relations (e.g., relations with the European Union) and horizontal ones (e.g., increasingly independent courts and central banks). Yet these developments are far from uniform and demonstrate that there may be different responses to the political challenges faced by contemporary Western democracies. Torbj rn Bergman is Professor of Political Science at Ume University, Sweden. Kaare Str m is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego. Jacket Credit: Heidi Hobde Dailey

Contents:

Parliamentary democracies under siege / Kaare Strom and Torbjörn Bergman

Nordic Europe in comparative perspective / Torbjörn Bergman and Kaare Strom

Change and challenges of Danish parliamentary democracy / Erik Damgaard

Finland : moving in the opposite direction / Tapio Raunio

Iceland : dramatic shifts / Svanur Kristjánsson and Indridi H. Indridason

Norway : from Honsvaldian parliamentarism back to Madisonian roots / Hanne Marthe Narud and Kaare Strom

Swedish democracy : crumbling parties, a feeble Riksdag, and technocratic power holders / Torbjörn Bergman and Niklas Bolin

Parties and party systems in the north / Nicholas Aylott

East-West conflict and Europeanization : international effects on democratic politics in the Nordic states / Cynthia Kite

The Nordics : demanding citizens, complex politics / Torbjörn Bergman and Kaare Strom.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Description based on information from the publisher.

ISBN:

9786613159816

9781283159814

1283159813

9780472025503

0472025503

OCLC:

923504194