Leiden University Student Repository

Kolvoort, Simone (2021)

Connecting descriptive and substantive representation: An analysis of differential responsiveness in the environmental policy field across 21 European democracies

Master thesis | Political Science (MSc)

This thesis considers environmental policy representation in a comparative study of 21 European countries to find what explains that hardly any of them have enacted policies commensurate with the public consensus on the need to mitigate climate change. Based on an original dataset of public opinion on ten potential environmental policy changes between 2008 and 2020, the main results are that amidst general policy responsiveness, both genders and age groups are equally well represented whereas high-educated citizens experience a slight representational bias. This demonstrates that climate policy adoption is not hampered by the underrepresentation of pro-environmental interests. The analyses in the second part reject descriptive representation as a plausible explanation for unequal policy responsiveness. Doing so, this thesis emphasizes the importance of going beyond numbers to explore mechanisms that facilitate the representation of climate preferences held by diverse groups in society.

policy responsiveness

substantive representation

descriptive representation

climate policy

public opinion

Author

Kolvoort, Simone

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Parties, Parliaments and Democracy

Supervisors

Louwerse, T.

ECTS Credits

20

Evaluation

Recommended

Language

en