Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Coalition theory and cabinet governance : an introduction / Wolfgang C. Müller, Torbjörn Bergman, and Kaare Strøm -- 2. Bargaining, transaction costs, and coalition governance / Arthur Lupia and Kaare Strøm -- 3. The empirical study of cabinet governance / Torbjörn Bergman, Elisabeth R. Gerber, Scott Kastner, and Benjamin Nyblade -- 4. Uncertainty and complexity in cabinet formation / Lieven de Winter and Patrick Dumont -- 5. Coalition agreements and cabinet governance / Wolfgang C. Müller and Kaare Strøm -- 6. Government formation and cabinet type / Paul Mitchell and Benjamin Nyblade -- 7. Portfolio allocation / Luca Verzichelli -- 8. Conflict management in coalition government / Rudy B. Andeweg and Arco Timmermans -- 9. Cabinet termination / Erik Damgaard -- 10. Institutions, chance, and choices : the dynamics of cabinet survival / Thomas Saalfeld -- 11. Coalition membership and electoral performance / Hanne Marthe Narud and Henry Valen -- 12. Conclusion : cabinet governance in parliamentary democracies / Kaare Strøm, Torbjörn Bergman, Wolfgang C. Müller, and Benjamin Nyblade.

"This book provides a comprehensive analysis of coalition politics in Western Europe over the post-1945 period. It champions a dynamic approach using bargaining and transaction cost theory to understand the 'life cycle' of parliamentary politics. After a review of the literature the theory chapter addresses the roles of bargaining and transaction costs in coalition governance. Eight comparative chapters address the topics of government formation, cabinet membership, coalition agreements, portfolio allocation, conflict management, cabinet termination and duration, and the electoral consequences of coalition politics. The book is based on the most comprehensive data set ever employed in coalition studies, which includes both coalitional and single-party countries and governments. Each chapter provides a comparative overview of its topic and state-of-the art statistical analysis.Conceptually and empirically the study argues for an integrated approach to coalition politics, stressing six clusters of explanatory factors: country-specific and temporal circumstances, 'structural attributes', actors' preferences, institutions, the bargaining environment, and 'critical events'. While the importance of different causal factors varies between the various phases of the parliamentary life cycle, no facet of coalition politics can be understood without reference to several of these factors." -- Book jacket.