Partisanship at Odds with Democracy?: How Populist Partisanship Influences Support for Democracy

This thesis examines how partisanship with populist parties (PPs) and populist radical right (PRR) parties (PRRPs) influences support for democracy over time, using longitudinal panel data from the Netherlands (LISS) and within-between regression analysis. Parties are categorised along a nativist-authoritarian dimension, ranging from “thin” PPs to “thick” PRRPs. Focusing on partisanship—measured through high party ratings (PRs)—it explores two key questions: (1) Do initial levels of support for democracy vary by partisanship? (2) How does partisanship affect support for democracy differently over time? It is hypothesised that support for democracy decreases along the nativist-authoritarian dimension, with lower levels of support both initially and longitudinally as a party adopts more pronounced nativist-authoritarian traits. The findings show that initial levels of support for democracy are lower among populist partisans and lowest among PRR partisans when compared to mainstream...Show moreThis thesis examines how partisanship with populist parties (PPs) and populist radical right (PRR) parties (PRRPs) influences support for democracy over time, using longitudinal panel data from the Netherlands (LISS) and within-between regression analysis. Parties are categorised along a nativist-authoritarian dimension, ranging from “thin” PPs to “thick” PRRPs. Focusing on partisanship—measured through high party ratings (PRs)—it explores two key questions: (1) Do initial levels of support for democracy vary by partisanship? (2) How does partisanship affect support for democracy differently over time? It is hypothesised that support for democracy decreases along the nativist-authoritarian dimension, with lower levels of support both initially and longitudinally as a party adopts more pronounced nativist-authoritarian traits. The findings show that initial levels of support for democracy are lower among populist partisans and lowest among PRR partisans when compared to mainstream partisans. Over time, the effects diverge: populist partisans are associated with a gradual increase, while PRR partisans exhibit a significant decrease in support for democracy. These contrasting trends underscore the corrosive influence of PRR partisanship on support for democracy and the potential for “thin” populism to positively re-engage disaffected citizens. By highlighting the dynamic and party-specific effects of partisanship, this thesis contributes to broader debates on the relationship between populism and democracy, offering a nuanced perspective on how different partisanships influence support for democracy over time.Show less

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Partisanship at Odds with Democracy? How Populist Partisanship Influences Support for Democracy