parteisüsteem

A "parteisüsteem" refers to the system of political parties operating within a country. It encompasses the number of parties, their relative strengths, their ideological orientations, and the relationships between them. Different types of party systems exist, commonly categorized by the number of parties that hold significant political power.

A two-party system, for example, is dominated by two major political parties, although other smaller parties may exist. In such systems, power typically alternates between the two main parties. Examples include the United States and the United Kingdom. A multi-party system, on the other hand, features several political parties with a realistic chance of gaining power, either individually or in coalition. This often leads to coalition governments, where parties must cooperate to form a majority. Countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy operate under multi-party systems.

In contrast, a one-party system is characterized by a single political party that holds all or virtually all political power, with other parties being either banned or suppressed. Such systems are often found in authoritarian or totalitarian states. The concept of a party system also considers the fragmentation or cohesion of the party landscape, the degree of ideological polarization, and the accessibility of the political system to new parties. The structure and dynamics of a country's parteisüsteem significantly influence its political stability, governance, and policy-making processes.