Party System Effects on Country Governance

Abstract

This paper describes research recently completed for a forthcoming book, Party Systems and Country Governance. The paper’s presentation parallels chapters in the forthcoming book. It provides thumbnail sketches of the first five chapters and summaries of later ones. It is also the sequel to a paper delivered at the 2010 meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association. This paper summarizes research methodology reported at greater length in the Midwest paper and uses two additional variables. Its extended findings show that party system traits have significant and relatively consistent effects on country governance in 212 countries, as measured by the Worldwide Governance Indicators.

Keywords: party systems, Worldwide Governance Indicators