Abstract
The ‘Lifespan’ of Green Parties in Western Europe: An Evaluation.
This article provides a comparative evaluation of green parties’ electoral, parliamentary and governmental performance in 17 Western European countries from 1975 to 2020. It applies the ‚party lifespan approach ‘ (Mogens Pedersen) as a heuristic concept for providing descriptive empirical information on the historical development of the Greens. The empirical findings indicate that the Greens will remain major political players in countries such as Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Sweden. In these countries, they will continue to challenge the established structures of party competition over the next decades while in countries like Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy they will most likely remain politically irrelevant.
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Notes
- 1.
Green parties were also founded in several Central Eastern European parliamentary democracies after the transition to democracy in 1989/90. They entered national parliaments once (or more) in nine countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) and national governments in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. However, in contrast to Western Europe the electoral support of the Greens in Central and Eastern Europe declined rapidly over the past thirty years. (Jordan 2010: 45ff.; Frankland 2016: 59 ff.). This is a major reason why these parties are not included in our analysis.
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Appendix I
Appendix I
Green parties’ electoral and parliamentary performance
Austria | ||||||||||||
(1) | 1983 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994 | 1995 | 1999 | 2002 | 2006 | 2008 | 2013 | 2017 | 2019 |
(2) | 3.2 | 4.8 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 4.8 | 7.4 | 9.5 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 12.4 | 3.8 | 13.9 |
(3) | 0 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 0 | 26 |
(4) | 0- | 183 | 183 | 183 | 183 | 183 | 183 | 183 | 183 | 183 | - | 183 |
(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 |
Belgium | ||||||||||||
(1) | 1978 | 1981 | 1985 | 1987 | 1991 | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 | 2010 | 2014 | 2019 |
(2) | 0.8 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 10.0 | 8.4 | 14.4 | 5.5 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 6.1 |
(3) | 0 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 17 | 11 | 20 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 21 |
(4)- | - | 212 | 212 | 212 | 212 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
(5) | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Denmark | ||||||
(1) | 1987 | 1988 | 1990 | 2015 | 2019. (The Alternative green party founded 2013) | |
(2) | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 4.8 | 3.0 | |
(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 5 | |
(4) | – | – | – | 179 | 179 | |
(5) | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | |
Finland | |||||||||||
(1) | 1979 | 1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2015 | 2019 |
(2) | 0.1 | 1.4 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 7.3 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 7.3 | 8.5 | 11.5 |
(3) | – | 2 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
(4) | – | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
(5) | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
France | ||||||||||
(1) | 1978 | 1981 | 1986 | 1988 | 1993 | 1997 | 2002 | 2007 | 2012 | 2017 |
(2) | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 0.2 |
(3) | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 1 |
(4) | – | – | – | – | – | 577 | 577 | 577 | 577 | 577 |
(5) | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Greece | ||||||
(1) | 1989 | 1990 | 2007 | 2009 | 2012(1) 2012(2) | |
(2) | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 0.9 |
(3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
(4) | 300 | 300 | – | – | – | – |
(5) | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 1 (green party not in parliament) |
Germany | |||||||||||
(1) | 1980 | 1983 | 1987 | 1990 | 1994 | 1998 | 2002 | 2005 | 2009 | 2013 | 2017 |
(2) | 1.5 | 5.6 | 8.3 | 5.1 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 10.7 | 8.4 | 8.9 |
(3) | 0 | 28 | 44 | 8 | 49 | 47 | 55 | 51 | 68 | 63 | 67 |
(4) | – | 520 | 519 | 672 | 669 | 669 | 603 | 614 | 622 | 631 | 709 |
(5) | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Italy | ||||||
(1) | 1987 | 1992 | 1994 | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 |
(2) | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.1 |
(3) | 13 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 15 |
(4) | 630 | 630 | 630 | 630 | 630 | 630 |
(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Ireland | ||||||||||
(1) | 1982 | 1997 | 1989 | 1992 | 1997 | 2002 | 2007 | 2011 | 2016 | 2020 |
(2) | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 7.1 |
(3) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
(4) | – | – | 166 | 167 | 168 | 169 | 166 | – | 158 | 160 |
(5) | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 0 | 1 |
Luxembourg | |||||||||
(1) | 1979 | 1984 | 1989 | 1994 | 1999 | 2004 | 2009 | 2013 | 2018 |
(2) | 1.0 | 5.2 | 8.4 | 9.9 | 9.1 | 11.6 | 11.7 | 10.1 | 15.1 |
(3) | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
(4) | – | 64 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
(5) | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Netherlands | |||||||||
(1) | 1989 | 1994 | 1998 | 2002 | 2003 | 2006 | 2010 | 2012 | 2017 |
(2) | 4.1 | 3.5 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 2.3 | 9.1 |
(3) | 6 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 14 |
(4) | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Norway | ||||||||
(1) | 1989 | 1993 | 1997 | 2001 | 2005 | 2009 | 2013 | 2017 |
(2) | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 |
(3) | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
(4) | – | – | – | – | – | – | 169 | 169 |
(5) | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
Sweden | |||||||||||
(1) | 1982 | 1985 | 1988 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2002 | 2006 | 2010 | 2014 | 2018 |
(2) | 1.7 | 1.5 | 5.5 | 3.4 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 4.4 |
(3) | – | – | 20 | – | 18 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 16 |
(4) | – | – | 349 | – | 349 | 349 | 349 | 349 | 349 | 349 | 349 |
(5) | – | – | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Switzerland | |||||||||||
(1) | 1979 | 1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2015 | 2019 |
(2) | 0.6 | 6.4 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 7.4 | 9.6 | 8.4 | 7.1 | 13.2 |
(3) | 1 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 28 |
(4) | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
United Kingdom | |||||||||||
(1) | 1979 | 1983 | 1987 | 1992 | 1997 | 2001 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 |
(2) | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 2.7 |
(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
(4) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 650 | 650 | 650 | 650 |
(5) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1.1 Appendix II
Green Parties’ governmental performance
Country | Years in Office | Ministry (Portfolio) | Minister (Name) (1) |
|---|---|---|---|
Austria | 2020 – (2021) | Art, Culture, Sport | Werner Kogler |
Social Affairs, Health | Rudolf Anschober | ||
Justice | Alma Zadic | ||
Belgium | 1999 – 2003 | Environment, Health | Magda Aelvoet |
Mobility, Transport | Isabelle Durant | ||
2020 – (2021) | Environment, Climate | Zakia Khattabi | |
Mobility, Transport | George Gilkinet | ||
Finland | 1995 – 1999 | Environment | Pekka Haavisto |
1999 – 2002 | Environment | Satu Hassi | |
Health, Social Service | Osmo Soininvaaru (99–21) | ||
2007 – 2011 | Justice | Tuija Brax | |
Labor | Targa Cronberg (07–09) | ||
Anni Sinnemäki (09–11) | |||
2011 – 2014 | International Development | Heidi Hantala (11–13) | |
Pekka Haavisto (13–14) | |||
Environment | Ville Ninistö | ||
2019 – (2021) | Foreign Affairs | Pekka Haavisto | |
Interior | Maria Ohlsalo | ||
Environment | Krista Mikkonen | ||
France | 1997 – 2002 | Environment | Yves Chochet (97–01) |
Dominique Yoynet (01–02) | |||
2012 – 2014 | Regional Development | Cecile Duflot | |
Developmental Aid | Pascal Canfin | ||
2016 – 2017 | Housing | Emmanuelle Cosse | |
2017 – 2018 | Ecological Transition | Nicolas Hulot | |
Germany | 1998 – 2002 | Foreign | Joschka Fischer |
Environment | Jürgen Trittin | ||
Health | Andrea Fischer (98–01) | ||
Agriculture | Renate Künast (01–02) | ||
2002 – 2005 | Foreign | Joschka Fischer | |
Environment | Jürgen Trittin | ||
Agriculture | Renate Künast | ||
Greece | 2015 | Environment | Giannis Tsironis (Jan-Sep) |
(Green party was not represented in parliament) | |||
Italy | 1996 – 2000 | Environment | Edo Ronchi |
Equal Opportunities | Laura Balbo (98–00) | ||
2000 – 2001 | Agriculture, Forestry | Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio | |
Community Policy | Gianni Francesco Mattioli | ||
2006 – 2008 | Environment | Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio | |
Ireland | 2007 – 2011 | Communication, Energy | Eamon Ryan |
Environment, | John Gormley | ||
2020 – (2021) | Environment, Transport | Eamon Ryan | |
Tourism, Culture, Sport | Catherine Martin | ||
Equality, Youth, Integration | Roderic O’Gorman | ||
Luxembourg | 2013 – 2018 | Justice | Felix Braz |
Sustainable Development | Francois Bausch | ||
Environment | Carole Dieschbourg | ||
2018-(2021) | Justice, Culture | Samantha Tanson | |
Interior, Defence, Mobility | Francois Bausch | ||
Energy | Claude Turmes | ||
Housing | Henri Kox | ||
Sweden | 2014 – 2019 | Finance, Consumer Affairs | Per Bolund |
Environment | Asa Romson (14–16) | ||
Karolina Skog (16–19) | |||
Education | Gustav Fridolin | ||
Climate, Int. Development | Isabella Lövin | ||
Culture and Democracy | Alice Bah Kuhnke | ||
Digitalization, Housing | Mehmet Kaplan (14–16) | ||
Peter Eriksson (16–19) | |||
2019 – (2021) | Finance, Consumer Affairs | Per Bolund (19–21) | |
Asa Lindhagen (since 21) | |||
Environment, Climate | Isabelle Lövin (19–21) | ||
Per Bolund (since 21) | |||
International Development | Peter Eriksson (19–20) | ||
Per Olsson Fridh (since 20) | |||
Gender, Equality | Asa Lindhagen (19–21) | ||
Märta Stenevi (since 21) | |||
Culture and Democracy | Amanda Lind |
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Müller-Rommel, F. (2022). The ‘Lifespan’ of Green Parties in Western Europe: An Evaluation. In: Baltz, E., Kosanke, S., Pickel, S. (eds) Parties, Institutions and Preferences. Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-35133-5_6
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