Two-party system
From a two-party system or a two-party democracy is called when alternate two parties as governing parties in a democratic state essentially. Such is a relatively homogenous electorate and electoral system heavily favored ( a suspected law is named after its founder as Duverger's Law).
A great advantage in the two-party system is normally safe parliamentary majority of the respective ruling party. Thus, the government is stable, early elections are rarely necessary. A disadvantage is the difficulty of minority interests is to gain parliamentary representation. Aborts on one of the parties or creates a strong new party, the majority, is nearly random, until the system stabilized by the sinking of the new or old party again.
The Italian political scientist Giovanni Sartori made the following four characteristics of a two-party system to:
The model of the median voter describes that in two-party systems, the programs of the parties tend over time to the center. Two-party systems are a practical example of the ice cream man - on - beach - problem of game theory.
Countries with two-party system
Europe
In the United Kingdom, where majority voting applies, were for centuries the Whigs ( from 1859 Liberal Party ) and the Tories the two dominant parties. After the First World War, they were replaced by the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. At the general election in February 1974 but came no absolute majority and no coalition. 2010, there was a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.
Favored by the electoral system of Malta dominate there, the Nationalist Party and the Malta Labour Party.
Since the parliamentary elections in Greece in 1990 Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima or the New Democracy party achieved an absolute majority in every election. This changed in the elections in May and June 2012, which also parties such as SYRIZA received significant voting shares.
Africa
In the parliamentary elections in Mozambique in 1994, where several parties were admitted for the first time, won the FRELIMO just ahead of the RENAMO, smaller parties had little or no influence. In subsequent elections, the FRELIMO was able to extend their lead.
Since the parliamentary elections in Cape Verde 1991, the Movimento para a Democracia Partido Africano da Independencia or the de Cabo Verde always had an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
America
A two-party system, there are in the USA, where for more than a hundred years, only the Democratic and Republican parties have practical significance. In the 18th and 19th centuries there were other parties, but usually only two major parties were present.
In Honduras, the Partido Nacional de Honduras and the Partido Liberal de Honduras are traditionally the strongest parties significantly. However, in the parliamentary elections of 2001 and 2005, no party won an absolute majority, because each also three smaller parties moved into the National Congress.
In Belize in 1973 several opposition parties merged to form the United Democratic Party, in order to create a counterweight to the ruling People's United Party. Since only these two parties are represented in the House of Representatives.
In the National Assembly of Guyana is dominated by the People's Progressive Party (PPP ) and the People's National Congress ( PNC). In the 2001 parliamentary elections, the PPP remained just below the absolute majority.
Oceania
In Fiji there is a two-party system, since in 2001 several groups to Fijian People's Party ( SDL) have joined forces. The SDL is competing in elections to the House of Representatives with the Labour Party.
- Party system