Appeasement and rewards

Author(s)
Matthias Kaltenegger, Katharina Heugl, Wolfgang C. Müller
Abstract

Intra-party democracy calls for party elites being responsive towards party activists. Yet, empirically, we know relatively little about how responsive parties are towards their rank and file and the factors influencing these processes. This article investigates drivers of party responsiveness towards activists, using a novel data source. Following a case study approach, the article analyses how motions submitted at 41 post-war party congresses of the Austrian Social Democratic Party were treated by party elites (n = 3249). Results indicate that elite responsiveness is a means to appease activists when the party underperforms in party competition. Elites vary responsiveness across intra-party groups. They are more ready to accept the demands of those groups that are affected most by the party's failure to deliver. Party elites are also more responsive towards electorally successful subunits.

Organisation(s)
Department of Government, Department of Communication
Journal
Party Politics
Volume
27
Pages
363-375
No. of pages
13
ISSN
1354-0688
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068819854205
Publication date
06-2019
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
506014 Comparative politics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Sociology and Political Science
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/appeasement-and-rewards(8141503b-7cfd-4080-b644-4959991af0b3).html