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Economic crisis and party responsiveness on the left–right dimension in the European Union

Clements, Ben; Nanou, Kyriaki; Real-Dato, Jos�

Authors

Ben Clements

Kyriaki Nanou

Jos� Real-Dato



Abstract

The economic crisis within the European Union has had a significant impact on domestic politics in the member states, affecting the links between parties and citizens and accentuating the tensions parties face between governing responsibility and being responsive to public opinion. This article examines whether parties in EU countries have shifted their left–right ideological positions during the current crisis and whether such shifts are a direct response to the pressures of wider economic conditions or are more affected by changes in the preferences of the median voter. Party-based and citizen-based data are examined between 2002 and 2015, encompassing both the precrisis and crisis periods. The main findings are that the economic crisis has made parties less responsive to public opinion on the left–right dimension, and this effect is more pronounced for parties that have been in government.

Citation

Clements, B., Nanou, K., & Real-Dato, J. (2018). Economic crisis and party responsiveness on the left–right dimension in the European Union. Party Politics, 24(1), https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068817736757

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 12, 2017
Online Publication Date Nov 13, 2017
Publication Date Jan 1, 2018
Deposit Date Dec 11, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Party Politics
Print ISSN 1354-0688
Electronic ISSN 1460-3683
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 24
Issue 1
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068817736757
Keywords economic crisis, European Union, left–right ideology, parties, responsiveness
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/902134
Publisher URL http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1354068817736757

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