Part 1 Theoretical perspectives: parliament as a central site in democratic consolidation - preliminary exploration, U.Liebert; parliaments, consolidation, institutionalization - a minimalist view, G.DiPalma. Part 2 parliamentary practice in Southern Europe - the case studies: the "centrality" of parliament in a protracted democratic consolidation - the case of Italy, M.Cotta; by consociationalism to a majoritarian parliamentary system - the rise and decline of the Spanish Cortes, J.Capo, R.Cotarelo, D.Lopez Garrido and K.Subirats; the difficulties of "rationalization" in a polarized political system - the Greek chamber of deputies, N.Alivizatos; revolutionary transition and problems of partliamentary institutionalization - the case of the Portuguese national assembly, M.Brega da Cruz, M.Lobo Antunes; cyclical break-down, redesign and nascent institutionalization - the Turkish grand national assembly, E.Kalaycioglu. Part 3 Comparative perspectives: political parties, parliaments and democratic consolidation in Southern Europe - empirical and theoretical perspectives, G.Pridham; parliaments in the consolidation of democracy - a comparative assessment of Southern Europe experiences, U.Liebert.
