This dissertation focuses on an understudied yet common phenomenon: the youth wings of political parties. As Western democracies are characterised by party-related political change, the question is... Show moreThis dissertation focuses on an understudied yet common phenomenon: the youth wings of political parties. As Western democracies are characterised by party-related political change, the question is whether the functioning of party youth wings has changed over time. This study compares the functioning of Dutch party youth wings in the years 1985-1990, a period on the eve of major political changes, with the recent years 2014-2020. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, it provides insight into the ability of party youth wings to mobilise, represent and socialise young people into the political system. Show less
How do political parties respond to heavy electoral defeat, and why do different parties respond in different ways? This question has become all the more relevant now that it seems more the... Show moreHow do political parties respond to heavy electoral defeat, and why do different parties respond in different ways? This question has become all the more relevant now that it seems more the rule than the exception for at least one party to lose heavily at any election. This dissertation aims to build a new model to explain the choices made by parties in response to heavy electoral defeat. Studying four cases in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, it reaches a number of new insights on party change. It turns out that parties under pressure are not just in a struggle for power or in a question for their primary goals, but also in a continuous conversation with the party’s own past. The degree of attachment to the electoral base and the party ideology have a significant impact on the preferences of parties for dealing with a heavy electoral defeat. These factors are, at the same time, sometimes overtaken by the realities of the electoral system in which parties operate. With these insights, this book takes the first step towards building a new model to understand an increasingly important phenomenon in party systems subjected to partisan dealignment and electoral volatility. Show less
Party law, or the legal regulation of political parties, has become a prominent feature of party systems. Some party laws are designed to have a much larger political impact than others. It... Show moreParty law, or the legal regulation of political parties, has become a prominent feature of party systems. Some party laws are designed to have a much larger political impact than others. It remains unknown why some countries adopt party laws that have substantial implications for party politics while other countries’ legislative efforts are of a very limited scope. This dissertation explores why different party laws appear as they do. It builds a theoretical framework of party law reform that departs from the Latin American experience with regulating political parties. Latin America is not necessarily known for its strong party systems or party organizations. This raises the important question of why Latin American politicians turn to party law, and to political parties more generally, to structure political life. Using these questions as a heuristic tool, the dissertation advances the argument that party law reforms provide politicians with access to crucial party organizational resources that allow them to win elections and to legislate effectively. It identifies threats to party organizational resources as an important force shaping adopted party law reforms – with potentially damaging consequences for the legitimacy of the political system as a whole. Show less
Approximately 2.5% of the electorate in the Netherlands is member of a political party. This modestly sized group plays an important role in representative democracies: members are part of the... Show moreApproximately 2.5% of the electorate in the Netherlands is member of a political party. This modestly sized group plays an important role in representative democracies: members are part of the electorate and of their party and function as intermediaries between voters and elected officials. There is, however, debate as to the role of party members. The impression exists that members of the same party are internally divided over important political issues, that it is largely impossible to distinguish between members of different parties substantively, and that members differ in terms of views and backgrounds, and thereby drive a wedge between voters and elected officials. Based on the Leyden Party Member Survey, this study investigates how internally cohesive, externally different and representative in terms of membership Dutch parties are. This study's findings suggest, at least for the Netherlands, that the view that party members are obstacles is factually incorrect. In general, party members are internally quite cohesive and adopt a shared, substantive position that differentiates from the position of members of other parties. Although their demographic profile deviates, members' substantive views are congruent with those of the voters and MPs of their party. Show less
This thesis studies, how, when and why established political parties imitate new political parties. It examines new party effects on both the policy positions of established parties and the... Show moreThis thesis studies, how, when and why established political parties imitate new political parties. It examines new party effects on both the policy positions of established parties and the attention established political parties spend on issues. It examines this effect in both the electoral and parliamentary arena. This study focuses on a single country, the Netherlands Show less
How can electoral volatility in the new European democracies be explained? This book proposes an institutionally embedded framework to explain voters’ choice in six Central and Eastern European... Show moreHow can electoral volatility in the new European democracies be explained? This book proposes an institutionally embedded framework to explain voters’ choice in six Central and Eastern European countries. Such an approach illustrates how political parties can influence the electoral environment in which they are active. As party organizations create effective gates of communication with the electorate, political parties can use them to stabilize their electorates. This study argues and tests that party organization can contribute to the creation of a recognizable label that voters can identify with over the medium to long term, that it may favor the creation of popular networks, and can promote and rely on recognizable candidates in consecutive elections. In order to do so, three distinctive means are employed: intra-party decision-making, membership rates, and re-nomination of incumbent MPs. Show less
Do political parties fulfil their election mandates? This study provides an empirical analysis of a question many people feel they already have an answer to. The extent to which parties talk about... Show moreDo political parties fulfil their election mandates? This study provides an empirical analysis of a question many people feel they already have an answer to. The extent to which parties talk about similar issues and take similar positions before and after elections is studied in the context of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The main question is whether the different institutional structures in these countries lead to differences in mandate fulfilment. To answer this question, this book provides an analysis of parties' election manifestos and parliamentary debates. It shows how the political competition changes after elections. It analyses differences between government and opposition and the impact of issue saliency and policy position extremism. Moreover, it provides an overview of mandate fulfilment since the 1950s: has party mandate fulfilment declined? Show less
