A third party in a polarised micro-state : the experience of Alternattiva Demokratika : the Green Party

Abstract

Malta's degree of political polarisation is a phenomenon that provokes astonishment; even The Economist and Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, have been obliged to recognize this ''perfect example of a bi-party system" that renders politics "supreme in all spheres of political, economic and even private life. " This dissertation begins by examining the origins and effects of this virtual political oligarchy. Having done so, it assesses the prospects of the present third political force, Alternattiva Demokratika, and its ideals, in the electoral battlefield, and explains the experience of this political group in such a political setting. To answer this, the work is divided into two parts of two chapters each. The first part explains the field and context of 'A Third Party in a Polarised Micro-State'. The second, on the other hand, focuses on 'The Experience of Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party', and reaches conclusions about the impact that this 'protest party', promising 'a breath of fresh air', left on the political gist of Maltese society.