Challenger Parties and Party System Change in Southern Europe

Abstract

The economic crisis has had a major impact on party systems in Southern Europe. Former 'systemic' parties of government have seen their vote shares significantly reduced, threatening their governing majorities. Meanwhile political forces which previously played a minor role in their national systems have moved into the mainstream and metamorphosed into parties of government, whether participating in power directly like SYRIZA in Greece or supporting a government, as in the case of the radical left parties in Portugal. At the same time, new parties like the Italian Five Star Movement or the Spanish Podemos and Ciudadanos have been able rapidly to capture a significant vote share, emerging as significant players in their respective party systems. The aim of this panel is to investigate the patterns of party change brought to Southern Europe by the crisis with especial emphasis on the role of challenger parties and the rise of populism.

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