Original scientific paper

The Structure and Dynamics of Croatian Party System

Nenad Zakošek ; Fakultet političkih znanosti, Zagreb

Abstract

The author analyses socio-structural as well as political and ideological characteristics of the party system in Croatia, on the basis of the results of a survey conducted short time before the 1992 parliamentary elections. Although the party system has not been completely shaped and stabilized, the author shows that its basic structure is determined by a number of cleavages. The initially dominant historical cleavage between political orientations advocating Croatian independence and those opposing it has been supplemented by contemporary polarization, such as liberalism versus conservatism, democratism versus authoritarianism, cosmopolitism versus ethnocentrism, religious versus secular orientation. These cleavages determine a dichotomous structure of the Croatian party system with a traditionalist right-wing pole and a modernist center and left-wing pole. The author also describes main dynamic tendencies in the party system of Croatia.

Keywords

political parties; Croatian party system; social structure; voters beliefs

Hrčak ID:

154870

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/154870

Publication date:

30.6.1994.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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