Veto players are political actors whose agreement is necessary for a change in the status quo. The concept of veto players is often used in political science to analyze how institutional arrangements and political dynamics affect policymaking and governance. Veto players can be individuals, political parties, or institutions that have the constitutional or political power to block proposed changes.
The idea of veto players is closely associated with the work of political scientist George Tsebelis, who extensively developed the concept in his book "Veto Players: How Political Institutions Work" (2002). In this book, Tsebelis argues that understanding the number and nature of veto players in a political system can help explain policy stability and change.
Reference: Tsebelis, George. (2002). Veto Players: How Political Institutions Work. Princeton University Press.
For further inquiry and practical applications of the concept of veto players in specific political contexts, you may also examine more recent scholarship in political science journals, as the concept has been employed in various studies concerning governance, institutional change, and policy stability since its introduction.