Search Result

Srl

Item

ID: 118528

Motivating the European voter: parties, issues and campaigns in European Parliament elections / Hobolt, Sara B; Spoon, Jae-Jae

Spoon, Jae-Jae	Journal Article
	0 Rating(s) & 0 Review(s)

Publication

2012.

Summary/Abstract

Voters behave differently in European Parliament (EP) elections compared to national elections because less is at stake in these 'second-order' elections. While this explains the primary characteristic of EP elections, it has often led to a conflation of distinct motivations for changing behaviour - namely sincere and protest voting. By distinguishing these motivations, this article addresses the question of when and why voters alter their behaviour in EP elections. In addition, it argues that the degree of politicisation of the EU in the domestic debate shapes the extent to which voters rely on EU, rather than national, considerations. These propositions are tested in a multilevel analysis in 27 countries in the 2009 EP elections. The findings have important implications for understanding why voters change their behaviour between different types of elections.

Key Words

European Parliament ; Politicisation ; Second - Order Elections ; Voter Behaviour

In Basket

Export

ID: 094972

Thinking locally, acting supranationally: niche party behaviour the European parliament / Jensen, Christina; Spoon, Jae-Jae

Jensen, Christina	Journal Article
	0 Rating(s) & 0 Review(s)

Publication

2010.

Summary/Abstract

Recent research on the European Parliament (EP) has neglected the idiosyncrasies of niche parties. Similarly, analyses of niche parties have not fully engaged the literature on the EP. This article builds on both literatures by analysing niche party behaviour in the EP as a distinct phenomenon. It is argued that niche parties will respond differently to institutional stimuli than parties more generally. To test this argument, Hix, Noury and Roland's work on EP party voting behaviour is replicated concentrating on niche parties only. It is found that participation in national government and institutional changes affect niche party legislators' voting behaviour, whereas they do not for legislators in the EP overall. These results have important implications for understanding both party behaviour in the EP and niche party behaviour more generally.

Key Words

Europe ; Vote ; Niche Party ; Europe - Parliament ; Supranationally

In Basket

Export