Publication
Title
How do mainstream parties justify their (un)willingness to rule with populist parties? Evidence from Twitter data
Author
Abstract
Parties usually argue in favour or against a government coalition based on party considerations in terms of projected policy implementation, power in office and vote maximization – that is, the ‘policy, office, votes’ triad. So far, however, it remains unclear which claims mainstream parties invoke to motivate their choice to rule or not rule with populist parties. Adopting the ‘policy, voter, office’ triad, this article examines mainstream parties' Twitter claims on ruling with populist parties in Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands (2006–2021,N = 1,919). Mainstream parties mainly reject ruling with (mostly radical right) populist parties. To justify unwillingness, policy-based motives referring to the populist parties' extremist nature trump motives on office-seeking and vote maximization. To justify willingness, predominantly office-seeking motivations are invoked. Party characteristics (ideology, incumbency status, size) and context, however, shape these claims. This study sheds light on mainstream parties' patterns of political communication on coalition formation with populist parties.
Parties usually argue in favour or against a government coalition based on party considerations in terms of projected policy implementation, power in office and vote maximization - that is, the 'policy, office, votes' triad. So far, however, it remains unclear which claims mainstream parties invoke to motivate their choice to rule or not rule with populist parties. Adopting the 'policy, voter, office' triad, this article examines mainstream parties' Twitter claims on ruling with populist parties in Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands (2006-2021, N = 1,919). Mainstream parties mainly reject ruling with (mostly radical right) populist parties. To justify unwillingness, policy-based motives referring to the populist parties' extremist nature trump motives on office-seeking and vote maximization. To justify willingness, predominantly office-seeking motivations are invoked. Party characteristics (ideology, incumbency status, size) and context, however, shape these claims. This study sheds light on mainstream parties' patterns of political communication on coalition formation with populist parties.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Government and opposition: a quarterly international journal of comparative politics. - London
Government and opposition. - Cambridge, Mass.
Publication
London : 2024
ISSN
0017-257X
DOI
10.1017/GOV.2022.45
Volume/pages
59 :1 (2024) , p. 47-72
Article Reference
PII S0017257X22000458
ISI
000884577800001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Law 
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 15.01.2024
Last edited 21.04.2024
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