Von Beyme

The Political Spectrum in Europe

Parties and Issue Positions

How to Count

methods

electworld

spectrum

Lijphart Models

Social Cleavage

Lijphart's 7 Cleavages

USDOP

spatial analysis

2002 French Pres elections

2003 Israeli election

Lipset and Rokkan

distribution of preference

Scandinavian Centre Parties

Today we will look at the distribution of preferences in four countries:

Denmark (11/01), Finland (3/99), France (6/02) and Spain (3/00)

The preference maps reflect votes for various parties in their last elections.

We will compare these recent results to von Beyme's summary analysis to see if changes have or are occurring in these four countries.  (Remember von Beyme's is a summary over time).

After this analysis we will begin an exploration of parties and their general issue positions.

We'll start with the "center" but remember the center isn't very powerful in Europe! 

 

Parties of the Center 

Agrarian 

Radical/ Liberal 

centrist parties that emphasize decentralization and environmentalism may also emphasize traditional values

concern for individual rights/ anti-clerical stands / laissez-faire on economic issues

Issue Positions:

1)  social services to rural areas

2) decentralization

 3) environmental protection

 4)  private enterprise

 5)  agriculture

6) defense of traditional morality

 7)  private enterprise/ controlled economy mix   

Issue positions:

1)  private enterprise

2) individual rights

3) environmental protection (but usually not at the expense of economic interests)

4) freedom

5) decentralization

 6) social justice