| Summary: | Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. Political Science Bibliography: leaves 113-123 This study is a comparative analysis of Green party voting in national and European elections in Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, France, and Luxembourg. This study examines Green party voting in European Parliamentary (EP) and national elections. The primary purpose of this study is to offer insight into why Green parties in these countries generally do better in EP elections than in national elections. -- In determining why Green parties generally do better in European elections than in national elections, three different propositions were applied. The study utilized the second-order election model, looked at the timing of EP elections within national election cycles, and examined differences in the electoral systems used in national and European elections. In explaining why Green parties tend to do better in EP elections, this study found that Green parties made gains in accordance with the second-order election model. The study attempted to determine whether Green parties made larger gains in EP elections that occurred in the early or late stages of the national election cycle. The study found that while Green parties generally made gains, regardless of when these elections occurred in the national election cycle, the greatest gains were in EP elections that were held in mid-term, or late stages of the national election cycle. Finally, this study found that Green parties tended to do better in countries that employed proportional representation in EP elections, but used plurality or majoritarian voting systems in national elections.
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