Liberal parties in Europe

The Norwegian left and the Finnish centre : what, no capital "L" liberal parties? / David Arter -- The Danish liberal parties / Karina Kosiara-Pedersen -- The Centre Party and the Liberals : the Swedish members of the Liberal party family? / Niklas Bolin -- Liberalism in the Netherlands : the VVD and D66 / Gerrit Voerman -- Belgian liberals : living apart together / Vivien Sierens -- Diversity, unity and beyond : the Swiss liberals / Oscar Mazzoleni -- Liberal parties in Austria / Laurenz Ennser-Jedenastik and Anita Bodlos -- It's (not only) the economy, stupid? : past and future of the German Liberal Party / Sebastian U. Bukow -- The UK Liberal Democrats : liberalism at a crossroads / Alan Wager and Tim Bale -- Fianna Fáil : in the liberals but not of the liberals / Conor Little and David M. Farrell -- Nuanced liberalism : the weakness of liberal parties in Spain / Lidia Núñez -- Liberal parties in Central and Eastern Europe : between success and failure / Blagovesta Cholova and Jean-Michel De Waele -- Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia / Daunis Auers -- The liberals in Europe : the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe / Wouter Wolfs and Steven Van Hecke -- Liberal parties and elections : electoral performances and profile of voters / Caroline Close and Pascal Delwit -- Governmental participation and alliances of liberal parties in Europe / Johan Hellström and Daniel Walther -- The liberal party family ideology : distinct, but diverse / Caroline Close -- How liberal parties organize / Stefanie Beyens, Emilie van Haute, Tom Verthé -- Conclusion : liberal parties in Europe / Caroline Close and Emilie van Haute.

Cover -- Half Title -- Series Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- List of figures -- List of tables -- List of contributors -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- PART I: Case studies -- 1. The Norwegian Left and the Finnish Centre: What, no capital 'L' liberal parties? -- 2. The Danish Liberal Parties -- 3. The Centre Party and the Liberals: The Swedish members of the liberal party family? -- 4. Liberalism in the Netherlands: The VVD and D66 -- 5. Belgian Liberals: Living apart together… -- 6. Diversity, unity, and beyond: The Swiss Liberals -- 7. Liberal Parties in Austria -- 8. It's (not only) the economy, stupid?: Past and future of the German Liberal Party -- 9. The UK Liberal Democrats: Liberalism at a crossroads -- 10. Fianna Fáil: In the Liberals but not of the Liberals -- 11. Nuanced liberalism: The weakness of liberal parties in Spain -- 12. Liberal parties in Central and Eastern Europe: Between success and failure -- 13. Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia -- 14. The Liberals in Europe: The alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe -- PART II: Comparative perspective on liberal parties in Europe -- 15. Liberal parties and elections: Electoral performances and voters' profile -- 16. Governmental participation and alliances of liberal parties in Europe -- 17. The liberal party family ideology: Distinct, but diverse -- 18. How liberal parties organise -- Liberal parties in Europe: Conclusion -- Index

The Norwegian left and the Finnish centre : what, no capital "L" liberal parties? / David Arter -- The Danish liberal parties / Karina Kosiara-Pedersen -- The Centre Party and the Liberals : the Swedish members of the Liberal party family? / Niklas Bolin -- Liberalism in the Netherlands : the VVD and D66 / Gerrit Voerman -- Belgian liberals : living apart together / Vivien Sierens -- Diversity, unity and beyond : the Swiss liberals / Oscar Mazzoleni -- Liberal parties in Austria / Laurenz Ennser-Jedenastik and Anita Bodlos -- It's (not only) the economy, stupid? : past and future of the German Liberal Party / Sebastian U. Bukow -- The UK Liberal Democrats : liberalism at a crossroads / Alan Wager and Tim Bale -- Fianna Fáil : in the liberals but not of the liberals / Conor Little and David M. Farrell -- Nuanced liberalism : the weakness of liberal parties in Spain / Lidia Núñez -- Liberal parties in Central and Eastern Europe : between success and failure / Blagovesta Cholova and Jean-Michel De Waele -- Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia / Daunis Auers -- The liberals in Europe : the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe / Wouter Wolfs and Steven Van Hecke -- Liberal parties and elections : electoral performances and profile of voters / Caroline Close and Pascal Delwit -- Governmental participation and alliances of liberal parties in Europe / Johan Hellström and Daniel Walther -- The liberal party family ideology : distinct, but diverse / Caroline Close -- How liberal parties organize / Stefanie Beyens, Emilie van Haute, Tom Verthé -- Conclusion : liberal parties in Europe / Caroline Close and Emilie van Haute.

This book investigates how liberal parties have evolved over time as a party family, in a comparative perspective. Through a discussion of the applicability of the concept of party family to liberal parties, it gives a better picture of the development, challenges, and opportunities for liberal parties in Europe. The history of liberal parties in Europe is peculiar and the origins of the liberal family are not clearly defined. Liberal parties are still quite heterogeneous given the various meanings embraced in the idea of liberalism, including economic liberalism, cultural liberalism, progressivism, social-liberalism. Bringing together the best specialists engaged in the study of liberal parties, and with a two-levels perspective (comparative and case study), this book renews and expands our knowledge on the liberal party family in Europe. Four major themes are developed, linked to the four approaches of the concept of party family: electoral performances, participation to power, ideology and political program, and party organization. These themes are systematically developed in case studies, and in comparative chapters. Primarily aimed at scholars and students in comparative politics, this book should especially appeal to scholars in the fields of political parties and party systems, representation and elections, voting behavior, and public opinion.