Multiparty Government: The Politics of Coalition in Europe

By Norman Schofield and Michael J. Laver

This study examines five basic themes in the politics of coalition government: the identity and motivation of those involved in the coalition; the eventual membership of the coalition as they form; their durability; the payoffs that are shared out by coalition members; and the impact of constitutional, behavioral, and historical constraints on the process of bargaining. Offering a wide range of detailed case studies, this discussion reconciles both theoretical and empirical approaches to provide insight into contemporary coalition governments in Europe. The politics of coalition is inherent in the political process of most European countries. Coalition may be analyzed either theoretically or empirically; this study reconciles both approaches. Providing insight into contemporary coalition theory, and placing it in the context of coalition politics, this work examines five basic themes: the identity and motivation of those involved in coalition politics; the eventual membership of coalitions; durability; payoffs; and the impact of constitutional, behavioral, and historical constraints on the process of coalition bargaining.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198272936
• ISBN13: 9780198272939
• Release Date: November 1991
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

An impressive approach to comparative politics

Laver and Schofield explain coalition politics at five levels: who are the players and what do they want, who forms coalitions, what do they gain, how long do they last, and what broad factors effect their behavior?They do this using fairly straightforward language and by combining various traditions in political science. There are those who are married to the concept of building models and general game theory to describe anything, and there are those who make predictions and generalizations based on organic statistical analysis of the available data, combined with suppositions about the future of politics. The former is usually a crude oversimplification, while the latter is overly subjective. Laver and Schofield attempt to satisfy both of these traditions and answer the concerns of both sides with any point they make.Great book on comparative politics. Great book on coalition formation. Easy to read (relatively).