Taylor & Francis and the Editors of West European Politics are pleased to announce the winners of the Gordon Smith and Vincent Wright Memorial Prizes for articles appearing during 2017, Volume 40. The Prizes were first established by Mr Frank Cass and the Editors in 2000 as a lasting tribute to Vincent Wright, both for his scholarship and as Editor of West European Politics over many years. Following the death of Gordon Smith, who had co-founded the journal and served as co-Editor until his death in late 2009, the decision was taken to rename the Prizes.
The value of each Prize is £250. All full-length articles in the relevant volume are eligible. Any of the major areas of comparative European politics, government and public policy, including the analysis of single countries from a comparative41perspective, are considered. Both Gordon Smith and Vincent Wright especially encouraged the work of younger scholars who had not previously published. Accordingly, in making the award of one of the Prizes, preference may be given to articles written by early career researchers.
The two articles below have been judged by members of the Editorial Board and the Editors as making a significant contribution to the study of comparative European politics:
Fernando Casal Bértoa, ‘Political parties or party systems? Assessing the “myth” of institutionalisation and democracy’, West European Politics, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 402–429.
and
Carolina Plescia and Magdalena Staniek, ‘In the eye of the beholder: voters’ perceptions of party policy shifts’, West European Politics, Vol. 40, No. 6, pp. 1288–1309.