Political Parties and Democracy ─ Contemporary Western Europe and Asia

"The role of political parties in a democracy is often under scrutiny. Rhetoric crying for more effective or reflective or representative democracy often lacks data to back up its claims. This book provides readers with a wealth of empirical detail: a refreshing and meticulous examination of political parties in ten democracies in Western Europe and East and Southeast Asia. It aims at providing skeptics and supporters of political parties alike with down-to-earth empirical realities. It is a must-read for everyone interested in the future of political parties and democracy in a century of globalization"--