Partisanship Revisited

Abstract

Partisanship has undergone significant changes in contemporary democracies. Once centred on social identity providing a solid basis to parties’ electoral consensus, it is now evolving into an attitude, affected by the very weakening of cleavage based parties, and contributing to increasing electoral volatility. Yet, the notion of partisanship remains crucial in public opinion and voting research. The panel intends to reflect on the behavioural consequences of such changes, and provide empirical inquiry on the nature and the impact of present-day partisanship on party membership, voters’ cueing, parties’ image and voting.