Two decades have passed since the transition to democracy began in Eastern Europe. Today, West and East-Central European countries share a common political space - the European Union. This has created a fascinating opportunity for analysis of the similarities and differences between these countries. Here, Vít Hloušek and Lubomír Kopecek critically apply the party-families approach to political parties in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. With chapters devoted to social democrats, greens, the far right and left amongst many others, this book charts the parties' origins, ideologies, and international ties alongside their Western European counterparts. By examining the political relevance of different party families, Hloušek and Kopecek are able to assess the validity of this typology in the analysis of the transformation of political parties in this region. Detailed analysis coupled with an innovative application of the party families approach, makes this essential reading for students of party politics.

Vít HlouSek, Lubomír Kope?ek

Preface; List of Abbreviations; Chapter 1 Types of Political Parties and Party Families; Chapter 2 Social Democrats and Socialists; Chapter 3 The Far Left; Chapter 4 The Greens; Chapter 5 The Agrarian Parties; Chapter 6 The Liberals; Or, the Curse of the Political Center; Chapter 7 The Christian Democrats; Chapter 8 The Conservatives; Chapter 9 The Far Right; Chapter 10 Ethnic and Regional Parties; Chapter 11 Party Families in East-Central and Western Europe at the Beginning of the 21st Century;