VAAs in Different Political Systems and Different Political Cultures

Abstract

Offering a VAA based on an important number of identical questions, using the same design and the same matching procedure in countries with different political cultures – as it has been done, for example, in the course of the last elections to the European Parliament – raises a certain number of questions: To what extent is the concept of proximity voting equally applicable in more and less polarized party systems, or in countries with a high degree of power sharing compared to political systems which strongly favour a single governing party? Are there specific requirements in terms of issue formulation or is there a need to integrate these systemic and cultural differences into the matching algorithm and the presentation of the results? This panel welcomes theoretical and empirical papers reflecting upon the link between the forms of democracy and the characteristics of the political systems with the adequateness and the functioning of VAAs. The papers preferably, but not exclusively, draw upon data and experiences stemming from the last EU elections. Additionally, the panel is also interested in papers which more generally deal with the impact of VAAs on democracy, parties and electoral behaviour as well as in considerations which address more ethical aspects of the phenomenon and best practises of VAAs.

Title	Details
Modelling Proximity Versus Directional Logic in VAAs: Algorithmic Performance Across Diverse National Settings	View Paper Details
Comparing VAAs in Albania and Greece: Are VAAs Instruments for Suitable Democracies Only?	View Paper Details
The Iterative Expert Survey Approach for Estimating Parties’ Policy Positions in VAAs	View Paper Details