Cycle of Coalition: How Parties and Voters Interact under Coalition Governance

Voters' perceptions of government parties are influenced by coalition governance, which can damage their reputations for competence and policy brands. This incentivizes cabinet partners to take stands against one another to protect themselves from potential electoral losses, leading to the Cycle of Coalition and its implications for electoral outcomes, partisan choices, government formation, and policy-making.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 225 pages
\n Publication date: 17 June 2021
\n Publisher: Cambridge University Press
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Coalition governance plays a significant role in shaping voters' perceptions of government parties and subsequently influencing their party behaviors. Through a comprehensive analysis of cross-national panel surveys, election results, experiments, legislative amendments, media reports, and parliamentary speeches, Fortunato reveals that coalition compromise can negatively impact parties' reputations for competence and policy brands in the eyes of voters. This motivates cabinet partners to engage in opposition against one another during the legislative process, seeking to protect themselves from potential electoral losses.

The Cycle of Coalition, as identified by Fortunato, has far-reaching implications for our understanding of electoral outcomes, partisan choices in campaigns, government formation, and the policy-making process. It sheds light on voters' behaviors at the ballot box, the effectiveness of governance, and the dynamics between government parties.

Coalition governance can lead to a complex web of alliances and conflicts within government. Parties may prioritize their own interests over those of the coalition, leading to policy disagreements and compromises. This can create uncertainty and instability for the government, as policy decisions are often made based on the ability to secure support from coalition partners.

Furthermore, coalition governance can influence the party system and political dynamics in a country. It can lead to the emergence of new political parties or the strengthening of existing ones, as parties adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by coalition formation. Coalitions can also shape the policy agenda, as parties may prioritize issues that are important to their coalition partners in order to secure their support.

However, coalition governance can also have negative consequences for political stability and democracy. It can lead to the fragmentation of the political landscape, as parties struggle to maintain their identities and policies within a coalition. This can make it difficult for voters to hold government parties accountable and can lead to a decline in political participation and engagement.

In conclusion, coalition governance plays a significant role in shaping voters' perceptions of government parties and subsequently influencing their party behaviors. While it can bring new opportunities and challenges, it is important to consider the potential negative consequences for political stability and democracy. Policymakers and political actors need to carefully navigate the complexities of coalition governance to ensure that it serves the interests of the public and promotes the development of a strong and stable political system.

\n Weight: 506g\n
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781108834803\n \n