Relationships Between MPs and Citizens and Social Groups

Abstract

There seems to be a mismatch in the communication between MPs and citizens: the former say they spend numerous hours a week getting information on citizens´ and social groups´ political preferences, while citizens complain saying that MPs don´t pay attention to their opinions, interests, needs or demands. This panel aims at analysing the instruments through which contacts between MPs and citizens and social groups take place, aiming at explaining how do they work and why. Paper delivered to this panel should focus on the extent to which these contacts take place? How do they happen? Under whose initiative (mainly top-down or bottom-up)? How do citizens and social and interest groups get in touch with MPs to let them know their opinions and needs? How do MPs look for information on social interests and opinions? To what extent do MPs have accurate information on citizens and social groups needs, opinions and expectations? Do citizens and social groups get in touch with MPs directly or are these contacts implemented through the party or through the parliamentary party, committees, or government officials? Are MPs contacted from the constituency or because of being members of a given parliamentary committee? To what extent do MPs look for these kinds of contacts with stakeholders or policy network actors in their field of specialization? Is it all the way around? Can we talk of a MP network or is it a party network? Where do these kinds of contacts take place? Are they permanent networks or just sporadic and ad hoc contacts? What is the frequency of these meeting? For how long? And what variables explain the kind of contacts between MPs and social groups and citizens? Papers tackling in these questions, with empirical evidence (either comparative or from a case study) will be welcome.

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