This paper investigates how perceptions of political ostracism (feeling excluded) and experiences of individual discrimination shape citizens’ preferences for political representation. We argue that the more strongly individuals feel excluded from the political system, the more they demand both descriptive and substantive forms of representation to feel politically included. Furthermore, among intersectionally marginalized individuals (e.g. women with migration experience), we argue that the demand for representation is not evenly distributed across identity dimensions but concentrated on the one identity along which political exclusion is most strongly perceived. To examine these mechanisms, we employ a novel visualization tool embedded in original surveys fielded in Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom (n=6000). This tool allows respondents to construct their ideal politician by selecting descriptive attributes (gender, age, social class, ethnic background) and political behaviors, including the substantive engagement for group-specific interests. By linking the subjective perceptions of political ostracism to concrete preferences for representative traits and behaviors, this study offers new insights into how exclusion shapes representation demands. It contributes to debates on political inclusion, intersectionality, and the responsiveness of democratic institutions.
