A Theory of Democratic Politics

The theory presented below deals mainly with the patterns of the political processes in four constitutional settings. This is the second of the two tasks described at the end of part 1 below. The first task, the one about the welfare effects of the political activities in the four cases, can, I think, be dealt with only when the second task is performed. So far, the first task therefore still lies ahead of me.

Arend Lijphart's comment on the theory
Expression of gratitude

1 - The subject matter of the theory

1.1 - The nature of the theory

2 - Legal and influential power

2.1 - Decisive and blocking power
2.2 - The legalistic principle disregarded: examples

3 - The role of political parties

3.1 - The party in the legislature
3.2 - The nature of the political party

4 - The main actor concept

5 - Four main types of constitutions

5.1 - Majoritarian elections
5.2 - Proportional elections
5.3 - Parliamentarism
5.4 - Presidentialism

6 - Six hypotheses about the shaping of parties

6.1- The number of parties

6.1.1 - A Corollary

6.2 - Incentives for party discipline
6.3 - Means of party discipline related to proportionalism
6.4 - Means of party discipline related to parliamentarism
6.5 - A Mechanism impeding party discipline related to presidentialism
6.6 - Mechanisms impeding party discipline related to primaries, referendums and initiatives

7 - Four main actor constellations

8 - The main actors' interactions

8.1 - Two kinds of compromises

9 - The main actors and the voters

10 - The main actors and the lobbyists

10.1 - The division of labor between political parties and lobbying organizations

11 - Parliamentary constitutions with proportional elections: The main actors' interactions

11.1 - Some conditions for the system's proper functioning
11.2 - The impossibility of a coalition with a purely ideological foundation

12 - Parliamentary constitutions with proportional elections: The main actors and the voters

12.1 - The quasi contractual relations between parties and voters

13 - Parliamentary constitutions with proportional elections: The main actors and the lobbyists

14 - Parliamentary constitutions with proportional elections: Summary and further conclusions

15 - Parliamentary constitutions with majoritarian elections: The main actors' interactions

15.1 - The cube rule
15.2 - Some conditions for the system's proper functioning
15.3 - The possibility of purely ideological single party executives

16 - Parliamentary constitutions with majoritarian elections: The main actors and the voters

17 - Parliamentary constitutions with majoritarian elections: The main actors and the lobbyists

18 - Parliamentary constitutions with majoritarian elections: Summary and conclusions

19 - Presidential constitutions with proportional elections: The main actors' interactions

19.1 - Some conditions for the system's proper functioning

20 - Presidential constitutions with proportional elections: The main actors and the voters

21 - Presidential constitutions with proportional elections: The main actors and the lobbyists

22 - Presidential constitutions with proportional elections: Summary and further conclusions

23 - Presidential constitutions with majoritarian elections: The main actors' interactions

23.1 - Some conditions for the system's proper functioning

24 - Presidential constitutions with majoritarian elections: The main actors and the voters

25 - Presidential constitutions with majoritarian elections: The main actors and the lobbyists

26 - Presidential constitutions with majoritarian elections: Summary and further conclusions

27 - A Summary of the descriptive part of the theory

Bibliography