STABILITY, CRISIS AND BREAKDOWN: SOME NOTES ON THE CONCEPT OF CRISIS IN POLITICAL ANALYSIS

In: Scandinavian political studies: SPS ; a journal, Band 9, Heft 2, S. 129-140

Abstract

THE ARGUMENT OF THE PAPER IS THAT POLITICAL SCIENCE WOULD BENEFIT FROM CLARIFICATION OF THE CONCEPT' CIRSIS, AND THAT THIS CLARIFICATION SHOULD BE RELATED TO NEIGHBOURING CONCEPTS SUCH AS 'STABILLITY" AND 'BREAKDOWN. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE STABILITY OF A POLITICAL REGIME IS DEMONSTRATED BY ITS ABILITY TO AVOID TRANSFORMATION AS WELL AS BREAKDOWN AT TIMES OF CRISIS WHEN THE CONTINUITY OF THE REGIME'S IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS IS THREATENED.