Vicisitudes del sistema de partidos del Estado español (1977-2011): ¿bipartidismo imperfecto, sistema de partido dominante o pluripartidismo limitado?

This paper analyzes the vicissitudes and changes experienced by the Spanish state party system from the 1977 general elections to 2011. Thus, after a brief terminological approach to the issue, it shows some generic features of the state party system and undertakes a critical examination of some of its most prominent typifications (“imperfect bipartidism,” “predominant party system” or “limited pluralism”). On the basis of such critical examination, it finally provides its own and more adequate characterization of itself