  We study an opinion dynamics model in which agents reach compromise via
pairwise interactions. When the opinions of two agents are sufficiently close,
they both acquire the average of their initial opinions; otherwise, they do not
interact. Generically, the system reaches a steady state with a finite number
of isolated, noninteracting opinion clusters (``parties''). As the initial
opinion range increases, the number of such parties undergoes a periodic
sequence of bifurcations. Both major and minor parties emerge, and these are
organized in alternating pattern. This behavior is illuminated by considering
discrete opinion states.
