@inbook{725d30cf9cae424fa33eef544f6024c9,
title = "Thematic Introduction: The Party System",
abstract = "This chapter provides a thematic introduction to the section on political parties. It argues that the German party system is unstable and unsettled, characterised by fragmentation, polarisation and volatility. However, the evidence also suggests that while vote splitting has increased, the vast majority of German voters, with the exception of AfD supporters, remain entirely supportive and largely satisfied with the state of democracy in their country. While German voters may value the notion of political compromise as such, the continuing impossibility to form an ideologically coherent coalition government either left or right of centre may well continue to breed discontent resulting in continued fragmentation and polarisation.",
keywords = "German politics, democracy, Germany, elections, Party research, voters, political parties, stability, fragmentation, polarisation, compromise",
author = "Heinz Brandenburg",
note = "{\textcopyright} 2023 Springer Nature Brandenburg, H. (2023). Thematic Introduction: The Party System. In: Campbell, R., Davidson-Schmich, L.K. (eds) The 2021 German Federal Election. New Perspectives in German Political Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38930-6\_3",
year = "2023",
month = dec,
day = "15",
doi = "10.1007/978-3-031-38930-6\_3",
language = "English",
isbn = "9783031389290",
series = "New Perspectives in German Political Studies",
publisher = "Palgrave Macmillan Ltd.",
pages = "49--60",
editor = "Ross Campbell and Davidson-Schmich, \{Louise K\}",
booktitle = "The 2021 German Federal Election",
address = "United Kingdom",
}