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Inter-Party Conflict Management in Coalition Governments: Analyzing the Role of Coalition Agreements in Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands

Author

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  • Catherine Moury

    (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, New University of Lisbon, Avenida de Berna, 26-C, 1069 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Arco Timmermans

    (Institute of Public Administration, University of Leiden, Campus The Hague, 2511 VA The Hague, The Netherlands Montesquieu Institute, 2514 EJ The Hague, The Netherlands)

Abstract

In this article, we focus on manifest interparty conflict over policy issues and the role of coalition agreements in solving these conflicts. We present empirical findings on the characteristics of coalition agreements including deals over policy controversy and on inter-party conflict occurring during the lifetime of governments in Germany, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. We analyze the ways in which parties in government were or were not constrained by written deals over disputed issues. Coalition agreements from all four countries include specific policy deals, one third of which are precisely defined. These policy deals concern both consensual and controversial issues. Our central finding is that, in the case of intra-party conflict, parties almost always fall back on the initial policy deals when these exist. As such, policy statements of the coalition agreement facilitate decision making in each of the countries studied.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Moury & Arco Timmermans, 2013. "Inter-Party Conflict Management in Coalition Governments: Analyzing the Role of Coalition Agreements in Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 1(2), pages 117-131.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v1:y:2013:i:2:p:117-131
    DOI: 10.17645/pag.v1i2.94
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