In person icon Territoriality, Political Identity, and Public Perceptions in Multilevel Governance Systems

Abstract

This panel explores the intersection of territoriality, political identity, and public opinion in the context of multilevel governance systems, focusing on the dynamics of decentralisation, regional identity, and the impact of crisis events on political preferences. By examining how citizens from various regions conceptualise and engage with regionalisation, this session investigates the role of local attachment, place-based representation, and political sorting in shaping democratic behaviours and attitudes. Drawing from different cases in Europe and beyond, the papers provide insights into how individuals’ preferences for territorial decentralisation, their residential choices, and their political alignments are influenced by their regional context, historical experiences, and the political landscape. Additionally, the panel engages with questions around democratic accountability, the potential for political polarisation, and the implications of shifting territorial identities in both stable and crisis contexts. Through a combination of survey data, in-depth interviews, and multi-level analyses, this session offers a comprehensive look at the evolving relationships between citizens and the political systems that govern them, offering insights for both scholars and policymakers working within federal, quasi-federal, and decentralised governance frameworks.

Title	Details
Here Versus There: Place-Based Political Representation and Voting in England	View Paper Details
Citizens' Preferences in (Quasi-)Federal States: A Two-Country, Intergenerational Comparison	View Paper Details
Multilevel System in Critical Situations: The Climate Crisis in Spain	View Paper Details
Geographical Polarization of Party Supporters: Residential Choices and the Self-Selection into Politically Compatible Regions in Germany	View Paper Details
Identifying Local Identity and its Importance to Contemporary Democracy: Evidence from Canadian Provincial Election Studies	View Paper Details