Changing Parties, Changing Partisans: The Personalization of Partisan Attachments in Western Europe

Abstract

This article investigates the effects of the deep transformations in the relationship between West European class‐mass parties and their electorates. Particular attention is paid to the changing nature of individuals' partisan attachments, which are hypothesized to be less rooted in social and ideological identities and more in individual attitudes towards increasingly visible partisan objects. The main objective of this article is to examine the influence of voters' attitudes towards one of these “objects”—the party leaders—in determining psychological attachments with the parties. The analysis concentrates on the two main cleavage‐based parties in Britain, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. The empirical findings highlight the declining ability of social identities (class and religious) to predict individual feelings of partisan attachment, as well as the growing influence of voters' attitudes towards party leaders. The concluding section points to the crucial role that political psychology can play in our understanding of democratic elections' outcomes.

Análisis de datos de panel en ciencia política: ventajas y aplicaciones en estudios electorales

“…Este fenómeno, común en política comparada (Franzese, 2007), se ejemplifica con el caso del desarrollo y la democracia: mientras algunos argumentan que el mayor desarrollo económico privilegia la democratización (Lipset, 1959), otros sostienen que la democracia facilita el crecimiento económico (Przeworski et al, 2000). En la investigación micro, por su parte, se sospecha de causalidad inversa al analizar percepción de candidatos y simpatía partidaria (Garzia, 2013), percepciones económicas e intención de voto (Lewis- Beck et al, 2008) y partidismo y preferencias electorales (Lupu, 2015), entre otras posible relaciones endógenas. Con datos transversales resultaría difícil respetar la precedencia temporal de las causas a los efectos ya que las variables se miden una única vez en el tiempo (Brady, 2008;Hsiao, 2003: 312).…”

Participação Política no Brasil e na Suécia: o papel dos estereótipos e do contágio

“…A wide range of information could be used to understand the interaction of groups in the parliamentarian arena: parties, interests of the sectors they represent, profession (previous to that as parliamentarian), political offices previously held, etc. (Carlin & Love, 2013;Druckman, 2001;Garzia, 2013;Kam, 2007;Koch, 2003). However, politically lay citizens may ignore several pieces of information and base their opinions on what they consider to be more relevant (Arceneaux, 2008;Druckman, 2001, Lau & Redlawsk, 2001).…”

Engaging politics : political participation in Brazil and Sweden, predicted by stereotypes about parliamentarians, political education and behavioral contagion

“…Therefore, issues frequently found on previous researches were transformed into items. Non-Participation items reflected already reported negative attitudes (Anderson, 2010;Azevedo & Chaia, 2008;Caprara, et al, 2009;Gomes, 2010;Miguel, 2003;Zimmerman & Zahniser, 1991 (Arceneaux, 2008;Blanc-Noel, 2013;Carlin & Love, 2013;Garzia, 2013;Golebiowska, 2003;Koch, 2003;Jorge, 2003;Kam, 2007;Lau & Redlawsk, 2001;Moisés, 2008;Rahn, 1993). Items on Political Education aim to assess how each context contributes to the learning by participants on the subject (Amnå, Ekström, Kerr & Stattin, 2009;Castro, 2010;Resende & Dionísio, 2005;Wyatt, Katz & Kim, 2000).…”

“…A wide range of information could be used to understand the interaction of groups in the parliamentarian arena: parties, interests of the sectors they represent, profession (previous to that as parliamentarian), political offices previously held, etc. (Carlin & Love, 2013;Druckman, 2001;Garzia, 2013, Kam, 2007, Koch, 2003, Pietryka & Boydstum, 2012. However, politically lay citizens, with short time to analyze information, may have to ignore several pieces of information and build their opinions based on the information they consider to be more relevant (Arceneaux, 2008;Druckman, 2001, Lau & Redlawsk, 2001.…”

“…Instead of pursuing an ideal of 'well-informed citizen', these authors try to know reality as it is, i.e., how people seek for information about politics in their everyday lives. Lupia and McCubbins (2000) argue that, either in the political arena or not, people usually have few information on the decisions they are about to make (corroborated by Carlin & Love, 2013;Druckman, 2001;Garzia, 2013;Henrique, 2010).…”