Modes of transition and democratic consolidation in the Third Wave

This paper distinguishes between modes of transition according to the institutional arrangements adopted during transitions to democracy. It categorizes 58 Third Wave (1974-2001) transitions into impositions, pacts, and collapses, showing that strategies of regime change are critically anteceded by the relative strength of incumbent and opposition party organizations. It proposes that the dynamics of transition-period events endure and reproduce owing to their influence on party system institutionalization. Whereas transitions by imposition are associated with increasing levels of system stability and transitions by pact with decreasing stability. Outcomes of transitions by collapse vary according to the strength and internal cohesion of opposition party.