Parties, Conflicts and Coalitions in Western Europe

Parties, Conflict and Coalitions in Western Europe explores the impact intraparty conflicts have on a political party\'s ability to bargain with other parties and coalitions. Focusing on Denmark, Norway, the UK, Italy and France, it investigates whether organizational imperatives of political parties play a role in interparty competition. Maor challenges traditional views to show that the degree of centralization or decentralization of a party and the nature of the intraparty conflict affects the party\'s elite to neutralize and pacify internal opposition. Crucially, he finds that decentralized models provide a variety of ways to manage such conflict without members leaving the party or voicing dissent outside the party.