In the last decades, a range of studies have considered the regional dimension of politics (Hooghe 1995; De Winter and Tursan 1998; De Winter 2001; Keating, 1998; De Winter et al. 2006) and party politics in multi-level systems (Hough et al, 2003; Hough and Jeffery, 2006) especially framed by European integration and mobilization, but often it has been neglected the regional “space for politics”.
I intend to present a preliminary study of institutional structures of sub-national authorities and their impact in terms of democratic performance. The Portuguese autonomous regions (Azores and Madeira) are the units of analysis. They are simultaneously island regions with specific institutional and political framework. They are structured by self-rule authority with directly elected legislative bodies; executive cabinet; a specific electoral systems and party system distinctive from the national one.
In what extend regional institutional configuration determines the party strategy and consequently the electoral outcomes? Which is the “structure of opportunities” of the regional elections in Azores and Madeira autonomous regions?
I intend to highlight, as an explanatory comparison, which conditions could explain the variation (time and space) of electoral outcomes and consequently who governs in (alternation vs. non-alternation) Azores and Madeira. Why the same national institutional arrangements produce different regional outcomes?
