From party-state to party fall: Analyzing the dominance and decline of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) in Montenegro through the lens of dominant party theory

This paper analyzes the dominance and eventual fall of Montenegro's Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) using the framework of dominant party theory. For three decades, the DPS ruled without alternation, blurring the line between a competitive democracy and a de facto one-party state. The study examines mechanisms of DPS dominance (patronage, institutional capture, and identity politics) while also exploring internal weaknesses, public discontent, and external influences that led to the party's defeat in 2020. The Montenegrin case is situated in comparative perspective, highlighting similarities and divergences with other dominant party systems in the Balkans and beyond. The analysis contributes to debates on party dominance, hybrid regimes, and democratic resilience.