Where Did the Party Conflicts Go? How Horizontal Specialization in Political Systems Affects Party Conflicts

Abstract This article shows that political conflicts are expressed in different arenas and between actors depending on the degree of horizontal specialization a system. In organizations with low specialization, more issues depoliticized discretion administration increases. One factor spurs is prioritization policy fields, rather than within fields. The based an analysis minutes from Assembly meetings as well interviews leading local politicians Chief Executive Officers three Swedish municipalities. Related Articles Johansson, Karl Magnus, Tapio Raunio. 2020. “Centralizing Government Communication? Evidence Finland Sweden.” Politics & Policy 48 (6): 1138‐1160. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12370 Nwokora, Zim, Riccardo Pelizzo. 2015. “The Political Consequences Party System Change.” 43 (4): 453‐473. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12124/abstract Vercesi, Michelangelo. 2016. “Coalition Inter‐Party Conflict Management: A Theoretical Framework.” 44 (2): 168‐219. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12154