IMPACT OF SOCIAL-MOVEMENTS ON EUROPEAN PARTY SYSTEMS

The evolution of new social movements in Western Europe creates severa l problems for established political parties. New social movements dem and programmatic changes, green parties attract voters who previously supported established parties, and movement activists prefer decentral ized party organizations. This article analyzes the success of establi shed parties in coping with these programmatic, electoral, and organiz ational challenges. The article concludes that while established parti es increasingly meet the programmatic and electoral challenge, they ar e less successful in meeting the organizational demands of new social movements.