Parties governments and elites are at the core of the study of democracy. The traditional view
is that parties as collective actors play a paramount role in the democratic process. However
this classical perspective has been challenged by political actors observers of modern
democracy as well as political scientists. Modern political parties assume different roles
contemporary leaders can more heavily influence politics governments face new constraints and
new collective bodies continue to form propose new ways of participation and policy making
and attract citizens and activists. In the light of these observations the comparative study
of democracy faces a number of important and still largely unsolved questions that the present
volume will address.
