Party Formation and Democratic Transition in Spain: The Creation and Collapse of the Union of the Democratic Centre

The abrupt collapse and dissolution of the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD), the party which governed Spain during the crucial period of the transition to democracy (1977-82), is one of the most extraordinary events in the history of European party politics. This book develops an original theoretical framework for the study of party institutionalisation, and draws on a wide range of empirical sources to offer new insights into the causes of the UCD's collapse. In explaining how a party, capable of winning two consecutive general elections and achieving notable successes in government, could disintegrate so spectacularly, Jonathan Hopkin's book will be of interest to students of comparative politics, political parties and of Spanish politics and history.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction Party Building and Party Collapse: A Framework for Analysis Party Formation Building an Organisation Party Crisis The Party Divides Party Collapse Conclusions Bibliography Tables

About the Author :
JONATHAN HOPKIN is a lecturer in European Politics at the University of Birmingham. He has also lectured at the University of Durham, and gained his PhD in Social and Political Sciences at the European University Institute in Florence. His publications include' La Desintegracion de la UCD: Una interpretacion organizativa' (Revista de Estudios Politicos), 'An Incomplete Alternation: The Spanish Elections of 1996' (International Journal of Iberian Studies),' Political Parties, Political Corruption and the Economic Theory of Democracy' ( Crime, Law and Social Change) and 'Political Parties in a New Democracy: Party System Change in Spain' (in D.Broughton and M.Donovan (eds), Changing Party Systems in Western Europe).

Review :
'Jonathan's Hopkin's work on the Spanish UCD is a fascinating description of the collapse of a political party which had successfully realised the transition from francoism and was the party of government for a number of years. Before the recent fall of some of the Italian parties, this case was almost unique in the western world: it remains a major puzzle which both academics and practitioners need to ponder. The end of the UCD is an example of failed or insufficient institutionalisation: there was too much of infighting among the 'chiefs'. Adolfo Suarez, the uncontested leader of the transition, was unable to bring these chiefs together. This works makes us reflect about the importance of leadership and the importance of party unity: these points do not concern Spain alone. There are lessons here for all western democracies, old or new.' - Professor Jean Blondel, Professor of Political Science, European University, Florence 'This book provides an impressive account of the collapse of the UCD, which is not only one of the most complex and ill understood events in contemporary Spanish history, but also a unique case in the recent evolution of Western European political parties. The book combines an original theoretical framework for the study of party organisation with a meticulous use of a wide range of empirical sources. The results of the research constitute an outstanding contribution both to the understanding of an exceptional case of party collapse, and to the development of theories of party organisation. As such, it is essential reading for students of Spanish politics and of party politics in general.' - Jose Ramon Montero, Instituto Juan March de Estudios e Investigaciones