Party Identification and Cultural Theory in Europe: Methodologically Advancing Comparative Studies of the Advocacy Coalition Framework

Abstract

To enhance comparative studies of the ACF, this contribution provides empirical evidence for the measurement of deep normative core beliefs and cultural theory through partisan affiliation. It assesses the interplay between cultural worldviews, partisanship, and policy core beliefs by means of linear regression analyses and correlation statistics to answer the question how deep normative core beliefs are best operationalized across and within European countries. The results methodologically advance and validate cultural theory and partisanship as conceptualizations of deep normative core beliefs and indicate that an appropriate measurement is dependent both on the national context and the policy subsystem. Under different conditions, either cultural worldviews or partisanship depict deep normative core beliefs and explain the formation of policy core beliefs as the basis for advocacy coalitions.

Cultural theory, rejection of cultural bias, and party preference

“…An obvious place to extend our analysis is to other multiparty systems. Recent research on the relationships among CT's cultures, partisanship, and policy advocacy coalitions in Europe (Hornung and Bandelow, 2021) and among CT's cultures, ideology, and risk perception in Canada may be good places to begin (Kiss et al, 2020) . Several CT studies also map the cultural complexion of European countries (Grendstad, 1999;Mamadouh, 1999aMamadouh, , 1999b.…”

“…Hornung and Bandelow (2021) may provide a particular attractive jumping off point since they analyze the 2016 European Social Survey. While they rely on single item measures of CT’s cultures and operationalize cultural bias only as agreement with these items, their study includes three Nordic countries.…”

Support for COVID-19 mandatory vaccination in the United States: examining the role of cultural worldviews, risk-benefit perceptions, and trust in scientists

“…Past work indicates that cultural worldviews and political ideology do share some overlap but are understood to be conceptually unique from each other and should be used to represent different core beliefs [Ripberger, Song, Nowlin, Jones & Jenkins-Smith, 2012]. While being distinct constructs, both represent complementary methods for attitudes to form [Hornung & Bandelow, 2021].…”

Public Policy Research—Born in the USA, at Home in the World?

“…Over the last decades, Europe has also established itself as a second highly relevant area for ACF studies (Bandelow et al. 2019 ; Hornung and Bandelow 2021 ; Nohrstedt and Olofsson 2016 ). Applying the ACF to Europe confronts this framework with stronger and more diverse parties, smaller countries, and different cultures.…”