Our study aims at capturing such complexities imbedded in the process of responsiveness by focusing on what type of responsive behaviour that is accepted within the party. Previous studies on responsiveness tend to discuss responsive behaviour from the perspective of the individuals giving or receiving the response, however, a representative’s response to citizen requests is relevant also to the colleagues of the representative in his/ her party.
By investigating how representatives react to their fellow party colleagues’ responsive behaviour, we contribute to the understanding of how responsiveness is constrained by internal processes within political parties.
We are able to gain unique insights by conducting a large-scale survey experiment with 2,500 Swedish politicians elected to local, regional, and national level political positions. We present scenarios to the politicians where citizens make contact with a party colleague of the respondent to impact the shutting down of a school.
