Introduction / Josep M. Colomer -- Great Britain and Ireland : variations in party government / Ian Budge -- Germany : the grand coalition state / Manfred G. Schmidt -- France : the institutionalisation of leadership / Yves Meجپny -- Italy : the never-ending transition of a democratic regime / Gianfranco Pasquino -- Spain and Portugal : rule by party leadership / Josep M. Colomer -- The Low Countries : confrontation and coalition in segmented societies / Hans Keman -- The Nordic countries : compromise and corporatism in the welfare state / Jan-Erik Lane and Svante Ersson -- The European Union : a federal, democratic empire? / Josep M. Colomer.