Party Strategies Research Articles

Competitive Strategies of Political Parties in the Zagłębie Dąbrowskie Region

Competitive Strategies of Political Parties in the Zagłębie Dąbrowskie Region

Why accommodate? How niche pressure and intra-party divisions shape mainstream party strategies

ABSTRACT Research demonstrates that mainstream parties often take up the issues and positions of emerging Eurosceptic and anti-immigration parties. Yet, these accommodative strategies generally do not pay off. Why do mainstream parties nevertheless accommodate these niche actors? I argue that mainstream-niche competition is governed by intra-party dynamics. The pressure exerted by niche parties alone does not suffice to drive internally united mainstream parties to accommodate. However, when mainstream parties face substantial intra-party divisions on the niche party’s issue, they may yield under internal pressure. I find empirical support for my theoretical claims on the issue of European integration using expert survey data on 78 mainstream parties in 14 Western European democracies between 1999 and 2019. The findings contribute to our understanding of the conditions under which niche parties are contagious and illustrate how intra-party divisions can steer parties away from vote-seeking strategies with consequences for voter representation.

Inter-Candidate Agenda Setting Effect of the 2018 Mexican Presidential Election: Political Party Candidates Vs. an Inde-pendent Candidate

The 2018 Mexican presidential election marked the initiation of a new political communication dynamic in which traditional electoral communication strategies of political parties were challenged by an independent candidate. This study evaluated this innovative electoral setting by examining Telemundo’s electoral coverage of party-affiliated candidates —Anaya Cortés, Meade Kuribreña, and López Obrador— and the independent candidate —Rodríguez Calderón— through agenda setting theory. The data was collected from Telemundo’s national newscast “Noticias Telemundo” with José Díaz Balart during INE’s official 90-day electoral campaign period. The inter-candidate agenda setting effect regarding the horse race topics was strong among the contenders suggesting that Telemundo’s journalists were disseminating the same information regarding party candidates, but the journalists’ reporting differed when covering the independent candidate. Outcomes indicate that there were two dominant political discussions in Telemundo regarding horse race topics, one emerging from all party candidates and the other one from the independent candidate. The inter-candidate agenda setting effect of issues presented strong correlations among all contenders, suggesting that their policy issues news agendas in Telemundo were nearly identical, which could have made it difficult for voters to distinguish among the candidates’ campaign messages. Overall, Rodríguez Calderón challenged parties’ political communication strategies in terms of horse race topics for his ability to disseminate a distinct campaign message in Telemundo despite having acquired the most negative coverage from journalists. But the independent candidate did not represent an opposition for parties regarding issues because his political rhetoric was not dissimilar from the other contenders.

Political Communication of the Ummat Party in the 2024 Election

This research aims to analyze how identity-based political parties develop and introduce their existence in the 2024 elections in Indonesia, focusing on the case study of the Ummat Party. Through a descriptive qualitative approach, this study explores campaign strategies and patterns of political communication used by the Ummat Party to attract voter support. The research employs a qualitative approach, focusing on the general principles underlying the manifestation of meaning from social phenomena in society. Findings indicate that identity politics, particularly based on ethnicity and religion, dominate the campaign strategies of political parties, albeit controversially. While successful in garnering voter support, identity politics also generates social and political impacts that require further attention. Implications of identity politics on the political system and national unity are of primary concern, demanding in-depth analysis of the political and social dynamics in Indonesia. This study provides valuable insights into the role of identity politics in the Indonesian electoral context and lays the groundwork for further research on this topic.

Perceptions of the ‘mainstream’ and the mainstreaming of the far right: from Ed Sheeran to Keir Starmer

ABSTRACT While people use the term ‘mainstream’ on a regular basis, there has been relatively little discussion about what it actually means. Within far-right studies, attempts to define the mainstream often center around party politics and the impact of mainstream party strategies on the far right. While a useful starting point, this focus has led to more rigid conceptions which encourage particular normative assumptions about its identity. Through poststructuralist discourse theory, supported by insights from music studies and critical discourse studies, this article proposes a definition which accounts for its contingency and construction, challenging dominant narratives about its nature. These issues are crucial when we consider the relationship between the mainstream and far right because they encourage us to question their perceived relative positioning. By introducing the concepts of talking ‘with’ and ‘about’ the far right, this piece establishes the need for us to take the role of the mainstream in the mainstreaming of the far right seriously.

Dependency Theory and Marxism in Latin America: Between Convergences and Contradictions

The emergence of Marxist dependency theory (MDT) in Latin America during the 1960s questioned the developmentalist doctrines of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the class alliance strategies of communist parties. MDT gained traction during the Cold War in the 1970s and 1980s and saw a new cycle of ascension in the early 21st century with the rise of progressive governments during Latin America’s Pink Tide. While some MDT scholars identify with Marxism-Leninism, this article critically examines aspects of this claimed affinity. The hypothesis posits that MDT’s assertions diverge from fundamental Leninist concepts and the theoretical traditions of Marxist-Leninist parties, instead reviving in new forms the arguments of their opponents in classical Marxist debates. The analysis focuses on two key dimensions of MDT arguments: (1) political propositions concerning the two-stage theory and alliances with bourgeois sectors by proletarian parties and (2) theoretical propositions on superexploitation of labor and subimperialism.

Some policies matter more: party salience and interest group access to political parties in Western democracies

ABSTRACT Political parties and interest groups play important roles in incorporating societal interests into democratic decision-making. Recent studies have analysed the causes of interactions between individual political parties and interest groups and of interest groups’ choices to seek access to one or more parties. Meanwhile, we know less about why some parties grant access to a range of interest groups while others focus on a few. This article theorises about party strategies and suggests that party salience – that is parties’ emphasis on different policy areas – affects the range of interest groups to which they grant access. I combine interest group survey data from six European democracies with data from party manifestos and use regression analyses to test this hypothesis. I find that parties provide access to multiple interest groups representing various interests in legislative politics and, above all, in policy areas that are salient to them. Thus, parties are more likely to be aware of diverse interests’ perspectives on policies in areas they prioritise. The results have important implications for our understanding of the consequences of party–interest group interactions in democracies.

Young blood: Needed or discarded? Untangling party strategies for the selection of young candidates

Young people are three times more present in the population than in elected assemblies. Their critical underrepresentation has so far received much less scholarly attention than other well-studied social groups, despite, for instance, women being underrepresented in parliaments to a smaller extent. This research investigates the reasons why parties, usually pointed as those who can sway group representation in politics, do (not) select young people for parliamentary elections. In-depth interviews have been conducted with 32 key informants from 6 Belgian parties (CD&V, Ecolo, Groen, MR, PS, and Vlaams Belang) responsible for candidate selection in the Belgian PR electoral system. Our interviewees’ insights allow us to assess young candidates’ assets and flaws in terms of their electoral popularity, political skills, and ticket-balancing value. This study also sheds light on parties’ strategic candidate selection decisions regarding long-term people’s management and openness to youth wings’ lobbying efforts.

Research on Business Contracts and Legal Regulations

In todays business environment, commercial contracts serve as important tools for regulating business activities, and their binding force and enforcement mechanisms are essential for the stability of business transactions. However, the complexity of commercial contracts often leads to various challenges, including contract interpretation, performance, and dispute resolution. Against this background, the research centers on the following questions. What are the challenges in drafting and enforcing commercial contracts? How effective are legal rules in constraining and protecting commercial contracts? What are the legal protection and risk management strategies of parties involved in commercial contracts? By conducting an in-depth study of these questions, this study examines the relationship between commercial contracts and laws and regulations, with a particular focus on the complexity of commercial contracts. As such, the paper aims to provide practical recommendations for strengthening the legal framework of commercial contracts and promoting the effective protection of the interests of all parties in business transactions.

Between Conflict and Cooperation: Electoral Strategies of Ethnic Parties

Between Conflict and Cooperation: Electoral Strategies of Ethnic Parties

Учебник конкуренции для профессионалов современного бизнеса

The presented review of the new edition of the textbook “Competition in Entrepreneurship” indicates that the author highlights the process of participation in competition as the main subject of study. The textbook under review is based on a constructive theory of competition, determined by the constant competitive specifics of the business environment, which consists in the rivalry of actors in the context of controlled integrity. Particular attention is paid to such concepts as competitive strategies of rival parties, methods of operating activities in a competitive environment, types of competitive operations, types and technical parameters of competitive actions, actions according to the situation, maneuvers and tricks used by actors, which become separate subjects of study. The concept of management of participation in competition as an independent element of company management is particularly highlighted. The presented review rightfully establishes a connection between the economic nature of competition and its interpretation as an objective economic phenomenon, together with the managerial nature of its manifestation.

A Study of Quantum Game for Low-Carbon Transportation with Government Subsidies and Penalties

Traditional classical game theory struggles to effectively address the inefficiencies in subsidizing and penalizing the R&D and production of low-carbon transportation vehicles. To avoid the shortcomings of classic game theory, this research integrates quantum game theory with Nash games to explore the characteristics of automakers’ behavior for low-carbon transportation with government subsidies and penalties. We first constructed a low-carbon transportation game model between the government and automakers. Then, the optimal profit strategies for both parties in a quantum entangled state were analyzed. Finally, the impact of quantum superposition states and the initial entangled state on the profit strategies of both parties was simulated and analyzed using Monte Carlo simulations. We find that under the joint effects of government subsidies and penalties, quantum game states and the initial quantum entangled state have a crucial influence on the game’s outcomes. They can encourage the realization of Nash equilibrium and perfect coordination in the quantum game, significantly increasing the profits for both parties. This in turn effectively stimulates automakers to research and produce low-carbon transportation solutions, promoting the rapid development of low-carbon transportation technology. In theory, this research can enrich the Quantum game for improvements in the Nash equilibrium solution for the government to subsidize and penalize the low-carbon transportation problem. Meanwhile, in practice, it can provide guidance and reference in optimal strategy selection conditions for government policymakers and automakers for low-carbon transportation.

Analisis Strategi Partai Gerindra dalam Meningkatkan Elektabilitas Prabowo Subianto pada Pemilihan Presiden 2019 di Provinsi Aceh

This research aims to analyze the strategies employed by the Gerindra Party to enhance the electability of Prabowo Subianto in the 2019 presidential election in the Aceh Province, utilizing Organizational Theory, Social Exchange Theory, and Political Marketing Theory. The qualitative research method incorporated data collection techniques such as observation, interviews, and documentation. The findings indicate the success of Gerindra Party's organizational strategy in Aceh, leveraging organizational structure and the committed performance of party cadres, motivating them to collectively support Prabowo Subianto. The effectiveness of the political promise strategy is evident through the signing of a political contract between Prabowo Subianto and 26 Aceh religious figures, aimed at developing Aceh Province and realizing the Free Port of Sabang to boost the economy of Aceh's communities. Furthermore, the identity politics strategy was implemented due to the majority of Aceh's population being Muslim. The Gerindra Party crafted an image of Prabowo as a devout Muslim leader who is consistent, pro-people, and engaged religious Islamic authorities in garnering support through Islamic boarding schools, mosques, and associations in the Aceh Province. This approach strengthens the relationship between Prabowo Subianto, the Gerindra Party, and the Acehnese community.

El Cuento del Destino: Latino Voters, Demographic Determinism, and the Myth of an Inevitable Democratic Party Majority

Abstract According to the “demography as destiny” theory, growing minority populations (which predominantly support Democrats) and the declining White population (which mostly votes Republican) will move politics and policy in more progressive directions. Latino voters are central to this account, but our critical analysis argues that such demographic determinism, which we call el cuento del destino, should be reconsidered. First, we argue that an overinvestment in the demography as destiny narrative causes distortions in party strategies; Democrats have been overconfident, and Republicans underconfident, about their abilities to secure the support of Latino voters. We examine trends in Latino voting behavior and partisan affiliation during and after the Trump years to show how the demographic narrative drives both parties to adopt suboptimal electoral strategies. Second, this narrative may also have implications for democracy itself, because misunderstandings about demographic determinism have led some Republicans to mistakenly worry that free and fair elections will inevitably lead to their party's electoral oblivion. Third, we interrogate the assumptions of the demography as destiny narrative, arguing that the political implications of Latino population growth are unclear and that the nature of Latino identity remains an open question. We conclude by describing the likely future of the Latino electorate as one characterized by growing partisan and political heterogeneity—including greater support for conservative politics—and suggest how the field of Latino politics might better understand such dynamics.

Religious Ideology and Clientelist Linkage in the Middle East and North Africa

The literature on clientelism, the informal exchange of benefits for political support, has proliferated over the last three decades. However, the existing literature largely ignores the role of religion in shaping clientelism in contemporary politics. In particular, few attempts have been made to explore the relationship between religious ideology and clientelism at the party level: How does political parties’ religious ideology impact their clientelist linkages with citizens? This study uses cross-national data of parties in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from the V-Party database (1970–2019) to answer this question. Our findings reveal that religious parties are more clientelist than secular parties in the MENA. Particularly, parties’ ties with social organizations mediate the relationship between religious ideology and clientelism. This study extends the literature on the impact of religion on informal political institutions by focusing on the ideology and linkage strategy of political parties in the MENA.

Going Local, Going Mainstream? Ethnographic Study of Two French Cities Governed by the Rassemblement National

Abstract The government actions of populist radical right (PRR) parties have predominantly been scrutinized at the national level, leaving a critical aspect – their territorial foothold – largely unexplored. Through a comparative ethnographic study of two medium-sized French towns governed by the Rassemblement National since 2014, this article delves into how seizing municipal power has influenced the party's efforts towards mainstreaming. We examine the party's strategy, aimed at institutionalization, which relies on a blend of rhetoric emphasizing proximity, pragmatism, and non-partisan administration while preserving fundamental ideological elements of the radical right. This amalgamation of mainstreaming and radicalism, adaptive to different contexts and audiences, is termed ‘adaptable ideology’. Our study makes significant contributions to two pivotal aspects of the literature: understanding the mainstreaming trajectory of PRR parties and exploring the recent, localist turn in the study of this political realm.

Selective Inclusion? Insights Into Political Parties' Recruitment of Immigrant Background Candidates in Bolzano

Political parties can be crucial gatekeepers to the political participation of immigrants. This article analyzes the political selection strategies of political parties at the local level. The case study focuses on the multi-ethnic city of Bolzano in Northern Italy, which is home to a significant migrant population as well as three autochthonous language groups: Italian, German, and Ladin. First, the article gives an overview of the political lists presented at the last local elections in 2020. Second, it discusses party strategies to recruit candidates with an immigration background. The presented insights are drawn from seven “elite” interviews (i.e., with high-ranking party representatives). Overall, the findings indicate that diversity stemming from migration does not have a significant impact on the recruitment strategies of the province’s political parties’: Despite electoral lists containing an increasing number of immigrants, who have migrated to South Tyrol since the 1990s, neither newer nor traditional parties adopt significant strategies to recruit candidates with an immigration background. Overall, the diversity on political lists mostly reflects the existing language cleavages of the autochthonous population, while diversity stemming from immigration is still largely overlooked. However, the results also show that while neither of the parties is fully inclusive or exclusive in their selection methods, we identify a tendency toward selective inclusiveness of certain immigrant groups.

Vote Choices and Valence: Intercepts and Alternate Specifications

Abstract Valence is a crucial concept in studying spatial voting and party competition. The widely adopted approach is to rely on intercepts of vote choice models and to infer, based on their size and direction, how valence affects party strategies in empirical settings. The approach suffers from fundamental statistical flaws. This contribution provides the statistical fundamentals to advance the empirical modeling of valence. It proposes an appropriate modeling approach to interpret intercepts as valences and alternate specifications to parameterize the effects of valence.

Personalization of politics through visuals: Interplay of identity, ideology, and gender in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly Election Campaign

Visual messaging is a cornerstone of campaign strategies of political parties and candidates that can complement and amplify the effects of the written/spoken word. Through a thematic analysis of the Facebook ads of the two main political parties during the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections in India, this paper shows the interplay of identity, ideology, and gender in the visual communication strategies of political parties on Facebook as they tried to mobilize voters in an intensely polarized context. Both the incumbent and the opposition parties framed issues in their visual campaigns that were culturally situated; these issues centered around identity and ideology while simultaneously emphasizing strong leadership with gendered rhetoric. Our findings contribute to the advancement of theoretical understanding of political personalization, highlighting the intricate interplay between gender, ideological inclinations, and cultural identity, all of which profoundly influence the personalization process in the context of an intensely polarized election campaign.

Strategie wyborcze głównych partii opozycyjnych Turcji w okresie rządów Partii Sprawiedliwości i Rozwoju

Electoral strategies of Turkey’s main opposition parties during the rule of the Justice and Development Party This paper aims at analyzing the evolution of the electoral strategies of the main oppositional political parties to the Justice and Development Party, which has been in power since 2002. Assuming that due to the increasing autocratization of Turkey’s political system, the opposition’s options for action remain limited, and any eventual victory depends on the ability to form electoral coalitions, the paper will trace the political path taken by the AKP itself and the political parties opposed to it until the elections in 2023. At the same time, the question will be asked about the reasons for the defeat of the opposition parties in 2023. The basic assumption here is that the internally diversified National Alliance failed to construct a comprehensive programmatic offer capable of attracting voters of the ruling party on a massive scale and at the same time it failed to deliver a sufficiently satisfactory offer to its own electorate.