Participation and Representation. A comparative study of linkage mechanisms between citizens and the political systems in contemporary democracies (DWTC276)

The legitimacy and performance of democratic government is dependent on the quality of linkage mechanisms between citizens and the political system. These mechanisms allow for participation, representation, policy input and responsiveness. It is clear, however, that traditional linkage mechanisms like party membership, party identification and electoral turnout have come under pressure in liberal democracies (cfr. also the results of PartiRep-I). Structural social changes have made it increasingly difficult for political parties and politicians to play their intermediate role of linking citizens and politics. Members of parliament and governments face the challenge to try to come to terms with the input they receive from an ever more volatile electorate. It is however clear that citizens, intermediate organizations and elected politicians are in search of new modes of linkage that are more adapted to an institutional and societal environment that is thoroughly changing.

Therefore, in PartiRep-II we aim to investigate the quality of traditional and new linkage mechanisms, building on the results of the previous phase with a renewed emphasis on the theoretical integration of these findings. Furthermore, our aim is to develop innovative quantitative and qualitative methods and experimental research designs to advance this research project. Just like in 2009, we will conduct a comprehensive voter survey at the occasion of the 2014 regional and European elections in Belgium.

Keywords:Ethnicity, International Relations, Democracy, Eastern Europe, Migrants, Political Parties, federalism, nationalism

Disciplines:History, Citizenship, immigration and political inequality, Economic development, innovation, technological change and growth