Legislative Party Fragmentation in Swiss Cantons: A Function of Cleavage Structures or Electoral Institutions?

DOI
Publisher DOI
Abstract
The determinants of party fragmentation in the two dozen cantonal parliaments of Switzerland are examined. Empirically, it is shown that the number of legislative parties in the Swiss member states is on the one hand a function of the religious heterogeneity of the cantons, and on the other a function of the effective threshold. Finally, socio-structural characteristics (urbanization, population density) are linked to the number of legislative parties in Swiss cantons.
Date Issued
2003-07-01
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Additional Credits
Journal
Party politics
Publisher
Sage Publications
ISSN
1354-0688
Access(Rights)
restricted
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