How Much Power Do Oppositions Have? Comparing the Opportunity Structures of Parliamentary Oppositions in 21 Democracies
52 Pages Posted: 5 Aug 2014
Date Written: 2014
Abstract
We cannot imagine a political system without opposition. Despite this crucial position in politics, political science has largely neglected to study oppositions. Attempting to fill this gap, this article analyzes the institutional opportunities of parliamentary oppositions. It offers a parsimonious framework by distinguishing two dimensions of opposition influence: Some institutions enable oppositions to control governments, while others offer opportunities to present alternatives. A comparison of oppositions’ opportunities in 21 democracies shows that countries fall into four groups along these dimensions, challenging some common wisdom. The results are summarized in three indices that can easily be applied in future research examining oppositions and their power.
Keywords: political oppositions, institutions, power, democracies, OECD, opportunity structure, parliaments
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