The Living and the Dead

Although the party systems of Central Europe have witnessed significant turbulence, some parties have survived. Endurance is more common among parties that built well-developed organizational structures, took a clear ideological stance as a standard-bearer on a major enduring issue divide of politics, and developed internal institutional structures that allow for a passing of the leadership baton when leaders had outlived their usefulness. In contrast, many new parties created in Central Europe do not have these characteristics. Their chances of survival are often diminished further by participation in government when they find it hard to deliver on their promises. Given the way that new parties begin, it is therefore not much of a surprise that most do not survive for more than a few election cycles. A few new parties were able to survive, but they did so mainly by actively choosing to acquire characteristics of the long-established parties.