Mechanisms of Dominance: Understanding 30 Years in Power of Montenegro’s Democratic Party of Socialists

This article analyses the mechanisms that contributed to the 30-year predominance of the (DPS) in Montenegro The authors pay particular attention to the DPS’ programmatic flexibility, use of co-optation, repression and control, as well as clientelism, examining their role in shaping state–society relations and party competition over time. In doing so, the article also seeks to explain the DPS’ setback in the 2020 elections and the ongoing transition from a dominant party system towards a more competitive multiparty system.