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Blame‐shifting in Times of Permanent Austerity: Evidence from Spain and Greece in the Eurozone Crisis

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  • Moritz Sommer

Abstract

The literature on blame avoidance suggests that politicians seek to avoid the risk of electoral punishment by means of blame‐shifting. Based on a quantitative content analysis of public responsibility attributions, this article explores public blame‐shifting among Greek and Spanish parties in austerity governments during the eurozone crisis. Arguing that blame avoidance behavior in times of austerity is conditioned by party ideology, the findings suggest that incumbent left‐wing parties are more inclined to shift the blame whereas conservative parties also claim credit. The article then explores how the European character of the crisis influenced the patterns of blame‐shifting. The results show firstly, that external blame‐shifting rose significantly in times of incumbency, when foreign actors appeared to be ideal scapegoats; secondly, external blame‐shifting in the crisis was slightly more common among left‐wing parties. The article contributes to assessing the role of party ideology for blame‐shifting and it helps to understand blame‐shifting in European policy fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Moritz Sommer, 2020. "Blame‐shifting in Times of Permanent Austerity: Evidence from Spain and Greece in the Eurozone Crisis," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(3), pages 562-579, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jcmkts:v:58:y:2020:i:3:p:562-579
    DOI: 10.1111/jcms.12926
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sofia Vasilopoulou & Daphne Halikiopoulou & Theofanis Exadaktylos, 2014. "Greece in Crisis: Austerity, Populism and the Politics of Blame," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 388-402, March.
    2. Weaver, R. Kent, 1986. "The Politics of Blame Avoidance," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 6(4), pages 371-398, October.
    3. Vassilis Monastiriotis & Niamh Hardiman & Aidan Regan & Chiara Goretti & Lucio Landi & J. Ignacio Conde-Ruiz & Carmen Marín & Ricardo Cabral, 2013. "Austerity measures in crisis countries — results and impact on mid-term development," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 48(1), pages 4-32, January.
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