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Beclouding Party Position as an Electoral Strategy: Voter Polarization, Issue Priority and Position Blurring

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  • Han, Kyung Joon

Abstract

Why do political parties present vague positions? We suggest that voter polarization provides them incentives to present either clear or vague positions, and the choice between these two is determined by the priority of an issue for the parties. We find that facing voter polarization, Western European political parties present clearer positions on an issue when it is a prime issue for them, but blur their positions when it is a secondary issue. Then, position blurring gives different implications to party systems with different degrees of issue dimensionality (such as American vs Western European party systems). The results also imply that political parties will respond to ongoing voter polarization on economic and immigration issues differently in the clarity of their position.

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  • Han, Kyung Joon, 2020. "Beclouding Party Position as an Electoral Strategy: Voter Polarization, Issue Priority and Position Blurring," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 50(2), pages 653-675, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:50:y:2020:i:2:p:653-675_12
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    Cited by:

    1. Hector Galindo-Silva, 2024. "Ideological ambiguity and political spectrum," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 139-180, June.
    2. Felix Bierbrauer & Aleh Tsyvinski & Nicolas Werquin, 2021. "Taxes and Turnout: When the Decisive Voter Stays at Home," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 071, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    3. Felix Bierbrauer & Aleh Tsyvinski & Nicolas Werquin, 2021. "Taxes and Turnout: When the Decisive Voter Stays at Home," CESifo Working Paper Series 8954, CESifo.
    4. Heidenreich, Tobias & Eberl, Jakob-Moritz & Tolochko, Petro & Lind, Fabienne & Boomgaarden, Hajo G., 2022. "My Voters Should See This! What News Items Are Shared by Politicians on Facebook?," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue OnlineFir, pages 1-1.
    5. Jelle Koedam, 2021. "Avoidance, ambiguity, alternation: Position blurring strategies in multidimensional party competition," European Union Politics, , vol. 22(4), pages 655-675, December.
    6. Bierbrauer, Felix & Tsyvinski, Aleh & Werquin, Nicolas, 2021. "Taxes and Turnout: When the decisive voter stays at home," CEPR Discussion Papers 15928, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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