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Convergence, Polarization and the Rise of Radical Right Parties - The effect of convergence on one dimension on the polarization on another in Western European party systems

Holmberg, Clara LU (2019) STVK02 20182
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This paper aims to test the impact of a changing dimensional structure on the party system polarization for several countries in Western Europe. It will focus on research on why new parties, and in particular radical right parties, have been able to find ground in Europe. In particular, it will quantitatively test how this might correspond with an increase in the polarization of the new dimension that includes the issues owned by radical right parties. The study is based on research investigating how the convergence of mainstream parties on economic issues, or the economic left-right dimension, creates a political opportunity for radical right parties as it might increase the salience of issues owned by them. It adds onto this research by... (More)
This paper aims to test the impact of a changing dimensional structure on the party system polarization for several countries in Western Europe. It will focus on research on why new parties, and in particular radical right parties, have been able to find ground in Europe. In particular, it will quantitatively test how this might correspond with an increase in the polarization of the new dimension that includes the issues owned by radical right parties. The study is based on research investigating how the convergence of mainstream parties on economic issues, or the economic left-right dimension, creates a political opportunity for radical right parties as it might increase the salience of issues owned by them. It adds onto this research by testing if the increased salience of the new, non-economic, dimension has now become more polarized. The empirical analysis does not find support for either expectation developed in relation to the two questions. Rather, the results show an opposite than expected relationship: that convergence on an economic dimension corresponds with decreased salience of the non-economic dimension, and increased salience of the non-economic dimension corresponds with less polarization. (Less)
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author
Holmberg, Clara LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK02 20182
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
radical right parties, spatial competition, issue competition, two-dimensional structure, polarization
language
English
id
8965244
date added to LUP
2019-03-21 10:00:26
date last changed
2019-03-21 10:00:26
@misc{8965244,
  abstract     = {{This paper aims to test the impact of a changing dimensional structure on the party system polarization for several countries in Western Europe. It will focus on research on why new parties, and in particular radical right parties, have been able to find ground in Europe. In particular, it will quantitatively test how this might correspond with an increase in the polarization of the new dimension that includes the issues owned by radical right parties. The study is based on research investigating how the convergence of mainstream parties on economic issues, or the economic left-right dimension, creates a political opportunity for radical right parties as it might increase the salience of issues owned by them. It adds onto this research by testing if the increased salience of the new, non-economic, dimension has now become more polarized. The empirical analysis does not find support for either expectation developed in relation to the two questions. Rather, the results show an opposite than expected relationship: that convergence on an economic dimension corresponds with decreased salience of the non-economic dimension, and increased salience of the non-economic dimension corresponds with less polarization.}},
  author       = {{Holmberg, Clara}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Convergence, Polarization and the Rise of Radical Right Parties - The effect of convergence on one dimension on the polarization on another in Western European party systems}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}