Political Parties and Electoral Volatility: How (un)stable is the Albanian Electorate?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.1111.17862

Keywords:

electoral volatility, party system, cleavage, electoral system, party members

Abstract

This paper offers an in-depth analysis of electoral volatility in Albania from 1991 to 2021, a transformative period from a communist regime to a democratic multi-party system. It diverges from Central and Eastern European trends by examining Albania's unique political dynamics and the factors influencing electoral behavior and volatility. Utilizing the Pedersen Index, the study methodically evaluates various determinants impacting party electoral volatility in Albania. The research underscores the significance of high membership rates and robust ground organization within major political parties as key contributors to low volatility levels in Albania's party system, thus providing insight into the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of Albania's political landscape.

Author Biography

Alban Reli, European University of Tirana

Alban Reli is a researcher at the Institute for Research and Methodology at the European University of Tirana. He is currently finalizing his PhD on "Discourse Analysis of Media Narratives on Albania in the Media of MENA countries." His research interests encompass discourse analysis, media studies, foreign policy, communism and totalitarianism studies. Additionally, he has translated into Albanian various books from Hebrew and Arabic and actively participate in academic research projects at international level such as COST Action projects and Horizon.

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Published

2024-11-15

How to Cite

Reli, A., & Xhaferaj, A. (2024). Political Parties and Electoral Volatility: How (un)stable is the Albanian Electorate?. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(11), 106–121. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.1111.17862