Securing Democracy

<p>When this book first published in 1990 several 'new' democracies were emerging in Southern Europe. Italy Portugal Spain and Greece were generally seen as conforming to the western European model of liberal democracy. But the process of democratization is a gradual one and each national democracy is moulded by its own political social and economic characteristics. In particular the active role of national political parties is of prime importance. </p> <p>The contributors to this volume focus on party systems in the democracies of Greece Spain and Portugal since the end of their authoritarian regimes and on Italy in the post-war period. This title will be of interest to students of politics European Studies and development studies. </p>