Influence of the local context on voting behavior in Czechia

Abstract

There are significant differences in voting behavior among municipalities and regions in parliamentary elections in Czechia. In the following study we concentrate on the influence of local context on voting behavior. We studied 10 municipalities and regions with a specific voting behavior that does not correspond to the expected voting behavior – according to the socio-demographic characteristics of the population. Using qualitative data analysis (focus groups and in-depth interviews), we focused on causes of voting behavior that are difficult to reveal through quantitative methods. According to the analysis, the socio-economic structure of the inhabitants of the regions, together with the influence of family, family history, traditions, and experiences shaped by the historical development of the region, have significant impact on political socialization and voting behavior. Local politics and local politicians also have some influence. At the same time, there are noticable differences between individual municipalities and regions representing different party families.

Electoral support in peripheral post-socialist regions as a product of nostalgia and grievances: The example of the Bruntál district

“…Ide teda v ich prípade o interpretáciu daného javu, ktorá vychádza z poznatkov a skúsenosti komunikačného partnera. Tým bolo možné uskutočniť rozhovory aj s podporovateľmi iných politických strán, ktoré nepatria do ľavicového alebo pravicového populizmu K tomuto kroku bolo pristúpené aj preto, že otázka, koho komunikačný partner volí a prečo práve danú stranu, je pre mnoho ľudí veľmi osobná a citlivá, na čo poukazuje vo svojom výskume Mikešová (2019). Rozhovory s komunikačnými partnermi sa najviac vzťahovali k posledným parlamentným voľbám v roku 2021, avšak komunikační partneri boli opytovaní i na predchádzajúce volebné chovanie a na dôvody jeho zmien či stabilitu.…”

Segmentation of Czech Voters: Diversity of the Decision-Making Processes

“…However, in recent years, voters' declining interest in reading election programs can be registered, which is the reason why the election campaigns are being personalized and the image of individual candidates is becoming even more important than before (Linek & Voženílková, 2017). This applies not only to national party leaders but also local candidates (Mikešová, 2019). A voter is not just an isolated individual but part of a social system in which his decision-making is influenced by the spatial context of the locality where he lives (Bernard & Kostelecký, 2014;Fotheringham et al, 2021;Pileček, 2021).…”