Steffen Hurka
Why are laws often so hard to understand? Steffen Hurka argues that the complexity of laws increases when political conflict becomes more intense and when decision-making becomes more inclusive. Democracies aim for compromise and the balancing of interests, and complex laws are the inevitable consequence Read more
Arianna Giovannini
A right-wing coalition won the Italian general election in September, but not all the parties within it fared well. After a boom in votes in 2018–19, support for Salvini’s League has collapsed. This, argue Arianna Giovannini and Davide Vampa, is the price for selling the party’s soul Read more
Giovanni Capoccia
The outcome of the Italian parliamentary elections, now less than two weeks away, seems a foregone conclusion. The centre-right coalition, led by Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing Brothers of Italy, will likely have a majority. What might happen after the centre-right takes power is more uncertain, says Giovanni Capoccia Read more
Amnon Cavari
In June 2021, after twelve consecutive years as Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu was forced out of office. The coalition replacing him promises change, find Amnon Cavari, Maoz Rosenthal and Ilana Shpaizman. Whether it delivers on its promises is another question Read more
Emilia Palonen
The Finns Party elected a new leader this weekend. The baton passed from Jussi Halla-aho to his radical right-hand woman Riikka Purra. This, writes Emilia Palonen, is a move that consolidates the Finns as a party of illiberal right-wingers Read more
Ekaterina Rashkova
Following the stalemate produced by April's elections, Bulgaria has just gone to the polls for the second time this year. Ekaterina Rashkova-Gerbrands argues that these elections have resolved nothing, leaving Bulgaria in a dilemma Read more
Dragomir Stoyanov
The success of new challenger parties in Bulgaria's recent national election has reconfigured the country's party system. Dragomir Stoyanov speculates that this may well mark an end to the decade-long era of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov Read more
Maria Thürk
Minority governments are generally disdained in most parts of Europe. They're seen as a second choice to majority governments which are assumed to be more stable and effective in policy-making. Yet, argue Maria Thürk and Svenja Krauss, there is more than type of ‘minority government’. Some variants can match majority governments in both stability and effectiveness Read more
The Loop
Cutting-edge analysis showcasing the work of the political science discipline at its best.
