2011/08/24 by Luigi Curini, Willy Jou, Vincenzo Memoli · 8 citations
Social Sciences · #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Gender Politics and Representation #Social Capital and Networks
paper · doi:10.1017/s0007123411000275
Previous authors have found greater political support among electoral winners than losers, but they define winners and losers at a single time point, and employ a dichotomous categorization that neglects possible variations within each group. This study considers both the past history of winning or losing and the impact of ideological distance from the government on a political support indicator – satisfaction with democracy. Using a multilevel model covering thirty-one countries, the authors show that the relationship between winner/loser status and satisfaction with democracy has a marginal dynamic nature and a policy content. Among present losers, previous experience of victory assuaged dissatisfaction, while among those presenting a consolidated ‘winning’ record, only high ideological proximity to the current government boosted political support.