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Five factors explain the electoral dominance of PASOK (1981–2004) and PSOE (1982–96): (a) The ideological weakness of the Right; (b) the implementation of more advanced social policies than in the past; (c) the political modernization (i.e. democratization or political liberalism measures) undertaken by the socialist governments; (d) cultural modernization (liberalism at the level of values and private sphere); and (e) economic modernization. The main hypothesis is that PASOK and PSOE over the long term took a lead over their opponents, by generating, adopting or setting in train (once in power) ideas which parties of the right in these countries were either incapable of generating or not yet ready to implement. Today, the long political cycle that began with the collapse of authoritarian regimes has come to a close in both countries. An «ordinary cycle» has thus replaced the preceding cycle of domination. The Greek and Spanish party systems are in the process of becoming significantly more balanced than they were.