The 'Sociological Laws' of Maurice Duverger: How They Evolved and Aspects of Methodology

Abstract

The author begins the article by calling attention to Duverger's methodological principles, which he then draws on to analyse and interpret 'Duverger's laws' concerning the effect electoral systems have on parties and party systems. Duverger's classification of party systems, which he asserts are closely linked to electoral systems, is dealt with in the conclusion of the article, where the author draws attention to the more elaborate version of the classi- fication that is hinted at in parts of his 1951 book Les partis politiques and that he then formulated explicitly in 1960.

The author compares this later version with Sartori's famous typology of party systems.

Keywords

• electoral systems
• party systems
• Duverger’s laws
• mechanical effects
• psychological effects
• multiplication
• coalitions
• polarisation
• bipolarity
• multipolarity
• rigidity
• flexibility