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Center Parties, Party Competition, and the Implosion of Party Systems: A Study of Centripetal Tendencies in Multiparty Systems

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  • Christoffer Green‐Pedersen

Abstract

Centripetal party competition is traditionally associated with the need to capture the median voter in a two‐party system, whereas the existence of center parties is associated with centrifugal party competition. This article argues that the existence of a ‘pivotal center party’ leads to centripetal party competition in multiparty systems. A pivotal center party is so strong in electoral terms that forming a majority either to the left or to the right of it is unrealistic. Therefore, office‐seeking political parties are forced on to a centrist course. This dynamic can be so forceful that the major parties to the left and to the right of the center party decide to govern in a broad coalition, and we may speak of an ‘implosion’ of the party system. The theoretical argument can explain party system developments in the Netherlands and Finland.

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  • Christoffer Green‐Pedersen, 2004. "Center Parties, Party Competition, and the Implosion of Party Systems: A Study of Centripetal Tendencies in Multiparty Systems," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 52(2), pages 324-341, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:polstu:v:52:y:2004:i:2:p:324-341
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9248.2004.00482.x
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    1. Anthony Downs, 1957. "An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(2), pages 135-135.
    2. Daalder, Hans, 1984. "In Search of the Center of European Party Systems," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 78(1), pages 92-109, March.
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