International studies, Vol. XI No. 4, 2011.
Review article
The Transformation of Political Parties in Poland and the Czech Republic: Two Models
Davor Boban
orcid.org/0000-0002-9748-3250
; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
After the beginning of democratic transition in Poland and the Czech Republic, ruling communist parties for the first time came in the opposition. This has forced them to adapt to the new democratic environment, and to find their own place in the multi-party system. Polish United Workers' Party was quickly transformed into a modem left party that led the left block, and has since 1993 to 2005 lead the government for two terms. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia refused to change its ideology and to tum itself into a modem left-wing party of the Western type, and thus allowed the emergence of the
strong social democratic party, which did not have a communist past. These two different models of transformation of former ruling parties influenced not only their electoral success in a democratic system, but also the structure of the left spectrum of the Polish and Czech party systems.
Keywords
Poland; Czech Republic; political parties; Alliance of Democratic Left; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia; Czech Social Democratic Party
Hrčak ID:
291637
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2011.
Visits: 315 *