political party, party system, ideology, fragmentation, polarisation, alternation, turnover, Peter Mair, party competition, Irish politics
This chapter focuses on the attributes and development of the Irish party system. It describes the party system’s development and structure, and where it sits in comparative perspective. As well as examining the party system in terms of party size and ideology, it applies Peter Mair’s conceptualisation of the party system as the structure of competition for control of the executive. In doing so, it explores the relationship between electoral change and party system change in Ireland, arguing that the systemic changes that have been emerging since the 2011 election are an extension of a longer-term trend in the opening up of the Irish party system. This incremental change was accelerated by the economic crisis that began in 2008 and its aftermath. The chapter suggests that the Irish party system is potentially at a critical juncture: a moment of uncertainty which provides opportunities for agency (by voters, party leaders, and others) to shape a durable future path.