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The End of One-partyism? Party Politics in Wales in the Second Decade of Devolution

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This paper assesses the contemporary state of party politics in Wales. Historically, party politics in Wales has been characterized by a remarkable degree of one-party dominance. A combination of lop-sided public preferences, and the exaggerating effect on these of highly disproportional electoral systems, have produced successive Liberal and then Labour party hegemonies. This situation now appears under some challenge. The political dynamics of devolution, including the introduction of a semi-proportional voting system for National Assembly elections, have contributed to a substantial decline in Labour's vote share in recent years. However, other factors, most notably the persisting weakness in Wales of Labour's opponents, suggest that one-party dominance may continue to endure.

Document Type: Research Article

Publication date: 01 September 2008

More about this publication?
  • Contemporary Wales is at the forefront of research into economic, political and social sciences relating to Wales. It contains both academic and practitioner-based articles, annual economic and legal reviews, and book reviews. Its interdisciplinary content drawing on current research on Wales makes the journal essential reading for students and researchers across a range of subject areas, including political and social policy, history, law, media and languages. Contemporary Wales has published articles in English and in Welsh.

    Mae Contemporary Wales wedi’i gyhoeddi’n gan Wasg Prifysgol Cymru fel llwyfan ar gyfer ymchwil blaengar ar Gymru o safbwynt y gwyddorau economaidd, gwleidyddol a chymdeithasol. Mae'n cynnwys cyfuniad o erthyglau gan academyddion ac ymarferwyr, adolygiadau economaidd a chyfreithiol blynyddol, ac adolygiadau o gyhoeddiadau yn y maes. Mae natur rhyngddisgyblaethol y cynnwys sy'n seliedig ar yr ymchwil diweddaraf yn golygu bod y cyfnodolyn yn hanfodol i wleidyddion, gwneuthurwyr polisi, y cyfryngau, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, llywodraeth leol yn ogystal â fyfyrwyr ac ymchwilwyr mewn ystod eang o feysydd gan gynnwys polisi gwleidyddol a chymdeithasol, hanes, y gyfraith, y cyfryngau a ieithoedd. Mae Contemporary Wales wedi cyhoeddi erthyglau yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg.

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