This paper analyses the relation between citizens’ left–right orientation and their preferences on more concrete economic and sociocultural issues. It suggests that this relation should be non-linear. Economic issue preferences should be associated with stronger differences among left-wing citizens (e.g., between extreme-left and centre-left citizens) than among right-wing voters. The reverse pattern should characterize the relation between sociocultural issues and ideological self-placement. The analysis of 19 elections in five West European countries offers strong support for hypothesis that left–right ideology and political issues are not related in a linear way.
