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https://doi.org/10.12759/hsr.43.2018.4.300-340
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Dimensions of Political Representation: Ideological and Policy Congruence between the Representative and the Represented in Seven Countries
Dimensionen der politischen Vertretung: Ideologie- und Politikkongruenz zwischen Abgeordneten und Wählerschaft in sieben Ländern
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Abstract Based on the understanding that modern democracies must be representative and that this is not only necessary but also desirable, this paper exploits a unique data set which makes comparisons of citizens and their parliamentary representatives on a number of dimensions possible at two points in time... view more
Based on the understanding that modern democracies must be representative and that this is not only necessary but also desirable, this paper exploits a unique data set which makes comparisons of citizens and their parliamentary representatives on a number of dimensions possible at two points in time (roughly six years apart). The data allows us to comparatively evaluate three dimensions of congruence: ideology, economic policy, and democratic values. We have found that the levels of congruence for the first two dimensions is remarkably high while the popular demand for democracy is significantly lagging behind. Finally, we have failed to demonstrate a positive correlation between quality of democracy and levels of congruence.... view less
Keywords
political elite; representation; representative democracy; political system; political ideology; preference; voting behavior; international comparison
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
trustee model; imperative mandate; elite-mass congruence; Left-Right ideology
Document language
English
Publication Year
2018
Page/Pages
p. 300-340
Journal
Historical Social Research, 43 (2018) 4
Issue topic
Challenged Elites - Elites as Challengers: The Impact of Civil Activism, Populism and the Economic Crisis on Elite Structures, Orientations and Agendas
ISSN
0172-6404
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed