Majorparien

Majorparien is a term used in political science to describe a family of party systems within parliamentary democracies in which a small number of large political parties dominate legislative representation and government formation. The term, blending "major" with a pluralized form of "parliament," denotes a structural tendency rather than a single institution. It is used to contrast with highly fragmented multiparty systems where many small parties hold sway.

In majorparien systems, electoral rules and historical party development converge to produce stable governing majorities. Coalitions, when necessary, typically crystallize around the two or three largest parties, enabling predictable policy agendas and long-serving governments. The legislature tends to see less fluctuation in party composition from election to election, and party leaderships exert strong influence over policy platforms and legislative agendas.

Critics argue that majorparien can dampen political participation and limit representation for minority views. The concentration of power may reduce policy experimentation and responsiveness to rapid social change, while occasional electoral shocks can test the durability of established majorities.

Scholars vary in how they measure and interpret majorparien, with debates over the role of electoral systems, societal cleavages, and party financing in producing dominance. Some see majorparien as a normal phase of mature democracies; others warn that it risks entrenching incumbency and reducing responsiveness.

See also: parliamentary democracy, party system, majoritarianism, proportional representation.