Party System Change in Eastern and Western Germany Between Convergence and Dissimilarity

Figures & data

Table 1. Hypotheses

	Volatility	Vote-switching	Availability	Fragmentation	Vote Share Differences
Hypothesis 1: Convergence East to West (institutionalisation, West-East transfer)	Decreasing in the East, stable in the West	Decreasing in the East, stable in the West	Decreasing in the East, stable in the West	Decreasing in the East, stable in the West	Decreasing differences in party strengths
Hypothesis 2: Convergence West to East (dealignment, East-West transfer)	Increasing in the West, reaching levels of the East	Increasing in the West, reaching levels of the East	Increasing in the West, reaching levels of the East	Increasing in the West, reaching levels of the East	Decreasing differences in party strengths
Hypothesis 3: Persisting Differences	Higher in the East than in the West	Higher in the East than in the West	Higher in the East than in the West	Higher in the East than in the West	Persistent differences in party strengths

Figure 1. Volatility in Eastern and Western Germany, 1994–2017. Data Source: Bundeswahlleiter (2018).

Figure 2. Vote-switching in Eastern and Western Germany, 1994–2017. Data Source: Schmitt et al. (1997, 2015; 2020); Van der Eijk et al. (1999); Van Egmond et al. (2013).

Figure 3. Electoral Availability in Eastern and Western Germany, 1994–2019. Data Source: Schmitt et al. (1997, 2015; 2020); Van der Eijk et al. (1999); Van Egmond et al. (2013).

Figure 4. Effective Number of Electoral Parties in Eastern and Western Germany, 1994–2019. Data Source: Bundeswahlleiter 2018.

Figure 5. Difference Index of Vote Shares between Eastern and Western Germany, 1994–2019. Data Source: Bundeswahlleiter (2018).

Figure 6. Differences in Vote Shares between Eastern and Western Germany by Party, 1994–2019.

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