Examining political congruence in a comparative perspective"

The linkage between citizens and representatives is one of the most important topics in the study of democratic political systems. It is an even more important issue in the current context of democratic malaise in Europe and elsewhere.
Very few studies have empirically looked at elites’ perceptions of the population’s preferences and compared the congruence between the two. This project aims at investigating this so-called “gap” between elites and citizens. It will examine 1) to what extent have elected politicians correct perceptions regarding the preferences and priorities of the people they represent? 2) And why do some politicians have more accurate perceptions of people’s preferences than others?
Using a comparative design (between countries and between the national and European levels), this project will concentrate on the congruence between politicians and elites at two levels: substantives issues (policies) and procedural issues (institutional design and democratic reforms).
 

Spokesperson

Nathalie Brack
Centre d'étude de la vie politique (CEVIPOL)
Faculty of  Philosophy and Social Sciences

Dates
Created on September 13, 2018