Party system closure and openness: conceptualization, operationalization and validation

The degree of closure of the governmental arena is a central aspect of the stabilization of party systems, and yet little systematic effort has been devoted to its operationalization. The article proposes a new index, examines its reliability and validity, and reports the ranking of 60 party systems. By redefining the units of measurement we suggest new indicators that are uniform and transparent in their logic of construction, can be applied both to specific government-changes and to time periods, and are sensitive to the degree of change. The article finds a hierarchy among the components of party system closure, dominated by coalition formula. While new and established democracies can both produced closed patterns, the analysis of inter-war European party systems shows that closed systems are less prone to authoritarian takeover. The article demonstrates the power of inertia: the completely closed configurations stand out as the most durable ones

Pretoriana, no. 039 & 040, Aug.-Dec. 1962

G. Rissik, Penningmeester van die Genootskap Oud-Pretoria en President van die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank / W. Punt -- Rissik worked his way up from humble posts -- Uit die briewe van Arnold Theiler VI / F.J.du T. Spies -- Sir Arnold Theiler / Austin Roberts -- Die geskiedenis van die Veeartsenykundige Navorsingsinstituut op Onderstepoort / C.C.F. Whitcomb -- Besoek aan die Nederlandse Opelugmuseum te Arnhem, Nederland / P.F. Coetzee -- Die sangvereniging "Hollandsch Mannenkoor" / Jan Ploeger -- The Union Buildings on Meintjeskop / T.E. Andrews -- Historiese besienswaardighede in en rondom Pretoria, II / H.M. Rex -- Pretoria at the time of Unification = Pretoria ten tye van Uniewording / A.A. Roberts -- Annual report = Jaarsverslag, 1962 / G.W. Eybers -- New opportunities for research in the Transvaal Archives / A.M. Dave

Pretoriana, no. 026 & 027, April & Aug. 1958

Ons Genootskap / W. Punt -- Die 22 stigterslede van die Genootskap Oud-Pretoria=The 22 foundation members of the Association Old Pretoria -- Our first ten years / G.W. Eybers -- Boodskap van die Burgemeester van Pretoria, Raadslid B.M. van Tonder=Message from the Mayor of Pretoria, Councillor B.M. van Tonder -- Die behoefte aan meer belangstelling in geskiedenis / B.M. van Tonder -- Pretoria of the future / Norman Eaton -- Pretoria kry nou hangende winkels -- Die Genootskap Oud-Pretoria se tienjarige bestaan : 'n oorsig / F.J. du Toit Spies -- 'n Beklangrike historiese gebou : die Z.A.S.M.-huis / H.O. Monnig -- Musiekaande by die Familie Middelberg in die Z.A.S.M.-huis, Pretoria / H.M. Rex -- 'n Geskikte terrein vir die Pretoriase kunsmuseum / J.J. de Jong -- Likely site for the Art Gallery=sketsplan vir Kunsmuseum voorgele -- Uit die briewe van Arnold Theiler III / F.J. du Toit Spies -- Die totstandkoming en ontwikkeling van die Staatsbiblioteek in Pretoria / G.W. Eybers -- Prince Christian Victor / A.M. Davey -- Inspeksierapport van Pretoriase plase, Aug. 1841 / W. Punt --Dr. Jan Ploeger vereer -- Genootskap Oud-Pretoria=Association Old Pretoria : ledelys 30-6-58=list of member

Pretoriana, no. 052, Dec. 1966

Message from the Mayor = Boodskap van die Burgemeester / J.F. Becker -- Gelukwensing van Dr. Willem Punt -- Dr. T.S. van Rooyen, 'n waardering / J.H. Hattingh -- Na vyftien jaar / G. v. W. Eybers -- An appreciation of Pretoriana, 1951-1966 / W.S. Robertson -- Vyftien jaar, meer as vyftig uitgawes van Pretoriana / Jan Ploeger -- Simpatiebetuiging i.s. wyle Mev. P.M. Beezhold -- Dr. Jan Ploeger en Pretoriana / F.J. du Toit Spies == Frederik Willem Beezhold Sr. en Jr. / H.M. Rex -- Joan Hoskyn Davies / J.H. Mienie -- My indebtedness to Pretoriana / T.E. Andrews -- Norman Eaton -- Johan Christiaan Vlok, in memoriam / J. Ploeger -- Norman Eaton was the finest architect in the country / A.L. Meiring -- Norman Eaton : biographical notes -- Presidents' biographies portrayed / Pretoria News -- Esteemed members of Old Pretoria Society ... quoted by Randolph Churchill / W.S. Robertson -- Mev. A.W. (Tissa) Eybers, in memoriam -- Mnr. A.M. Davey skrywe uit Kaapstad -- A monument to Johann Rissik in Arcadia Park / C.J. Beanes -- The arrival of the first Trans-African plane in Pretoria / H.P.H. Behrens -- Onthulling van twee gedenkplate op Krugerdag, 1966 / N.A. Coetzee -- Jaarverslag = Annual report 196

Pretoriana, no. 032 & 033, April-Aug. 1960

Ons vier = We rejoice / G.W. Eybers -- 'n Leemte in die geskiedskrywer se benadering van ons geskiedenis = A defect in the historians approach to our history / J.C. Otto -- Woord van waardering aan Dr. Spies / W. Punt -- How Pretoria became seat of Government of the South African Republic in 1860 and administrative capital of the Union of South Africa in 1910 / J.D. Bodel -- Die stigting van Pretoria en die voorsiening van gewone en godsdiensonderwys tot 1 November 1859 -- Pretoria's first government school / J. Ploeger -- When the wild cat was hunted on Church Square / W.J. de Kock -- Die munisipale bestuursreëlings van Pretoria voor 1877 / J.J.N. Cloete -- Die aandeel van Willem Skinner in die ontwikkeling van Pretoria / S.G. Roos -- Charles John Beanes / R.E. Kuiper -- Church Square / C.J. Beanes -- Burgerspark / J.P. Engelbrecht -- John Hunter McLea, Pretoria se eerste Direkteur van Parke / H.M. Rex -- Meester Wessel Louis se skool in Pretoria / S.J. Bezuidenhout -- Die Staatsbiblioteek , 1883-1900 / Steph. J. Schoeman -- Die Staatsmodelskool is 'n sieraad van die 19e eeuse argitektuur / F.C. Calitz -- Die Staatsmodelskool as historiese gedenkwaardigheid geproklameer -- Die Staatsmodelskool / C.H.B. Naudé -- Sir Winston Churchill and Pretoria sixty years ago / A.M. Davey -- Die glasblasery op Eerste Fabrieken / J. Ploeger -- Uit die briewe van Arnold Theiler V / F.J. du T. Spies -- 'n Historiese skildery in die Ou Museum / P.J. Nell -- Voortrekkerhoogte : 'n geskiedkundige oorsig / J.C.D. Lamprecht -- Pretoria se eerste Uniedag / F.J. du T. Spies -- Die Uniegebou / A.L. Meiring -- Die Pretoriase stadsaal / W.J. Erasmus -- Bekende Helde-akker van Suid-Afrika / W.J. de Kock -- 'n Voorstel vir die uitleg van 'n wandelterrein in Pretoria / T.H. le Roux -- 'n Wandelterrein vir die stad Pretoria / Franz J. Wepener -- John or Jahn Street in Muckleneuk? / A.M. Davey -- Gelukwensings=Congratulations -- 'n Woord van dankOriginal copy bound without p. 111-112 ; p. 109-110 duplicate