Changes in likud party organization as an outcome of electoral victory in 1988 and electoral defeat in 1992: An Israeli case study

This study examines the effect of electoral victory in 1988 and electoral defeat in 1992 on the party organization structure of Israel's Likud Party. Until recently, most researchers on party organization claimed that electoral defeat causes organizational change, while other scholars found that victory, too, can generate change in party organization. The present article studies the effects of electoral defeat versus electoral victory on party organization. Findings reveal that, following victory, the Likud became more factional, with intra-party power struggles, leading to a more equal distribution of power. Electoral defeat changed the dominant coalition and leadership, resulting in a more oligarchic structure.