Political parties and democracy in Portugal:

The first book in English or Portuguese to devote itself to the political parties of Portugal, Thomas Bruneau’s comprehensive book investigates the role of these parties in the emergence and consolidation of the country’s new democratic system.After the coup of April 25, 1974, political parties quickly emerged as the key political force in Portugal and played a critical role in steering a course through the revolutionary climate toward democracy. Since that time, they have remained the leading actors not only in politics but in economics and the overall shaping of Portuguese society, guiding the development of the democratic process. Besides providing an intimate look at political groups in Portuguese society, this book illuminates the Portuguese example as a source of comparison with other “new democracies” and, on a larger scale, with the political party systems of Western Europe.