2023/10/09 by Christian Schimpf, Alexander Wuttke, Harald Schoen · 1 voice · 10 citations
Mathematics · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Computer science #Demographic economics #Econometrics #Economics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Empirical research #Law #Mathematics #Media Influence and Politics #Panel data #Panel survey #Political science #Politics #Populism #Populism, Right-Wing Movements #Positive economics #Psychology #Social psychology #Stability (learning theory) #Statistics #Trait #Variable (mathematics)
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s0007123423000492
published in British Journal of Political Science 54(3), 979-992 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 2023/10/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
Abstract The literature on populist attitudes frequently makes one of two assumptions: populist attitudes are either stable or unstable. However, few studies have examined these diverging assumptions empirically. We use panel data collected over six panel waves between 2017 and 2021 in Germany to assess the stability of populist attitudes. Integrating inter-individual stability (variable-centred) and intra-individual stability (individual trajectories), we find that populist attitudes are neither fully stable (trait) nor fully flexible (state). For example, some respondents constantly changed their view on populism while the attitudes in one out of three individuals remained stable. We also explore empirical consequences and find that populist attitudes are more closely linked to vote choice when they are stable. Accordingly, we argue for a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics of populist attitudes, both at the variable and individual levels, where these attitudes are stable and consequential for only a subset of individuals.