Political Alternation in the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands

“In this innovative study, Dr Ruel explores why political alternation—a bedrock of democratic functioning—has been largely absent in three under-studied regions in Portugal and Spain. Focusing on Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands, this book explains how party competition, intra-party democracy and regional economic performance have contributed to political party stasis since the return of democracy in the mid-1970s.” — Paul M. Heywood , Sir Francis Hill Professor of European Politics se