Politics and society in comparative perspective:
Week 1:
Lecture 1 – articles:
Kriesi (1998): “The Transformation of Cleavage Politics"
- Historical context of cleavages:
Kriesi starts by discussing traditional cleavages, such as those
based on class, religion, and geography, that have historically
defined party systems and voting behavior in Europe.
These cleavages shaped political life in the 19th and early 20th
centuries, with political parties aligning along lines of these social
divisions.
- The Decline of Traditional Cleavages:
Over time, these traditional cleavages have weakened due to
factors like secularization, urbanization, and changes in class
structures.
As a result, the politics of class and religion, which once
dominated, no longer hold the same salience (= gewicht/waarde)
in most European countries.
- Emergence of New Cleavages:
Kriesi argues that new political cleavages are emerging,
particularly those related to issues of post-materialism, cultural
identity, and globalization.
These new cleavages have changed the way people align
politically, with the rise of environmental, regionalist, and anti-
globalization movements.
- Cultural and Value-Based Divisions:
A major part of the transformation involves a shift toward cultural
or value-based cleavages. For example, divisions between pro-
and anti-immigration groups or between advocates of European
integration and Eurosceptics are becoming more significant.
These cultural and identity-based divisions are linked to the
broader societal changes, including the rise of the "new middle
class" and the impact of globalization.
- Impact on Party Systems and Voting Behavior:
The changing cleavages have led to the fragmentation of party
systems and the rise of new political movements. This
transformation has led to an increase in voter volatility and has
made traditional party alignments less predictable.
Kriesi highlights the role of new political parties and the
fragmentation of the electorate as an important consequence of
the transformation of cleavage politics.
, - Implications for Political Analysis:
Kriesi suggests that political science must adapt to these changes
by developing new models of political behavior that account for
the emergence of new cleavages.
Understanding the interaction between traditional and new
cleavages is essential to analyzing contemporary European
politics.
Ford & Jennings (2020) “The changing cleavage politics of
Western Europe”
- Cleavage Politics and Its Evolution:
Ford and Jennings build on the concept of political cleavages,
which are divisions in society (such as those based on class,
religion, and culture) that shape political behavior, voting
patterns, and party systems.
They argue that traditional cleavages (e.g., class-based or
religious) that have defined political landscapes in Western
Europe for much of the 20th century are undergoing significant
transformations.
- Decline of Traditional Cleavages:
Traditional cleavages, particularly those based on class (working-
class vs. middle-class) and religion (Catholics vs. Protestants),
have weakened in importance.
This decline is linked to long-term societal changes, such as
secularization, deindustrialization, and the rise of a more
educated and middle-class electorate.
Ford and Jennings observe that the decline in these cleavages
corresponds with the decrease in the strength of traditional
parties, especially those with class-based platforms (e.g., left-
wing parties that historically represented the working class).
- Rise of New Cleavages:
The article highlights the rise of new political cleavages rooted in
cultural, identity, and value-based issues. These new cleavages
are often defined by:
Immigration and the cultural divide between cosmopolitan,
liberal elites and more nationalist, anti-immigrant groups
Globalization and its impact on economic and cultural
landscapes, leading to divides between those who support and
those who oppose greater integration into the global economy.
European integration, with growing divides between pro-
Europe and Eurosceptic factions.
, The rise of these cleavages has shifted the focus of political
competition from traditional issues like labor rights and
industrial policy to issues of identity, migration, and national
sovereignty.
- Impact on Political Parties and Party Systems:
New parties and movements have emerged in response to the
changing cleavages, particularly on the right-wing populist and
green sides.
Right-wing populist parties capitalize on nationalist sentiments
and concerns over immigration, often positioning themselves
against the political establishment and European integration.
Green parties and progressive movements focus on
environmentalism, social justice, and multiculturalism, aligning
with the more liberal cultural values.
These new parties have challenged the dominance of traditional
center-left and center-right parties, leading to fragmentation and
polarization in party systems across Europe.
This fragmentation has made elections less predictable and has
led to more coalition governments and political instability in many
Western European countries.
- Voter Behavior and Partisanship:
The changing cleavage structure has also led to shifts in voter
behavior. Increasingly, voters' political affiliations are driven by
issues like immigration, cultural identity, and European
integration, rather than traditional factors like social class.
There is growing electoral volatility, with voters switching parties
more frequently. This change reflects a broader sense of political
discontent and a lack of trust in traditional political elites.
Political parties are increasingly finding it difficult to maintain a
clear and stable electoral base, as ideological divisions become
more fluid.
- Cross-National Variation and the Role of Context:
Ford and Jennings emphasize that the changing cleavage politics
of Western Europe are not uniform across countries.
The intensity and nature of new cleavages vary depending on
national context, including historical, cultural, and institutional
factors.
For instance, countries with stronger traditions of political
consensus (like the Nordic states) may experience different
cleavage dynamics than more fragmented political systems (such
as in Italy or the UK).
,
Week 1:
Lecture 1 – articles:
Kriesi (1998): “The Transformation of Cleavage Politics"
- Historical context of cleavages:
Kriesi starts by discussing traditional cleavages, such as those
based on class, religion, and geography, that have historically
defined party systems and voting behavior in Europe.
These cleavages shaped political life in the 19th and early 20th
centuries, with political parties aligning along lines of these social
divisions.
- The Decline of Traditional Cleavages:
Over time, these traditional cleavages have weakened due to
factors like secularization, urbanization, and changes in class
structures.
As a result, the politics of class and religion, which once
dominated, no longer hold the same salience (= gewicht/waarde)
in most European countries.
- Emergence of New Cleavages:
Kriesi argues that new political cleavages are emerging,
particularly those related to issues of post-materialism, cultural
identity, and globalization.
These new cleavages have changed the way people align
politically, with the rise of environmental, regionalist, and anti-
globalization movements.
- Cultural and Value-Based Divisions:
A major part of the transformation involves a shift toward cultural
or value-based cleavages. For example, divisions between pro-
and anti-immigration groups or between advocates of European
integration and Eurosceptics are becoming more significant.
These cultural and identity-based divisions are linked to the
broader societal changes, including the rise of the "new middle
class" and the impact of globalization.
- Impact on Party Systems and Voting Behavior:
The changing cleavages have led to the fragmentation of party
systems and the rise of new political movements. This
transformation has led to an increase in voter volatility and has
made traditional party alignments less predictable.
Kriesi highlights the role of new political parties and the
fragmentation of the electorate as an important consequence of
the transformation of cleavage politics.
, - Implications for Political Analysis:
Kriesi suggests that political science must adapt to these changes
by developing new models of political behavior that account for
the emergence of new cleavages.
Understanding the interaction between traditional and new
cleavages is essential to analyzing contemporary European
politics.
Ford & Jennings (2020) “The changing cleavage politics of
Western Europe”
- Cleavage Politics and Its Evolution:
Ford and Jennings build on the concept of political cleavages,
which are divisions in society (such as those based on class,
religion, and culture) that shape political behavior, voting
patterns, and party systems.
They argue that traditional cleavages (e.g., class-based or
religious) that have defined political landscapes in Western
Europe for much of the 20th century are undergoing significant
transformations.
- Decline of Traditional Cleavages:
Traditional cleavages, particularly those based on class (working-
class vs. middle-class) and religion (Catholics vs. Protestants),
have weakened in importance.
This decline is linked to long-term societal changes, such as
secularization, deindustrialization, and the rise of a more
educated and middle-class electorate.
Ford and Jennings observe that the decline in these cleavages
corresponds with the decrease in the strength of traditional
parties, especially those with class-based platforms (e.g., left-
wing parties that historically represented the working class).
- Rise of New Cleavages:
The article highlights the rise of new political cleavages rooted in
cultural, identity, and value-based issues. These new cleavages
are often defined by:
Immigration and the cultural divide between cosmopolitan,
liberal elites and more nationalist, anti-immigrant groups
Globalization and its impact on economic and cultural
landscapes, leading to divides between those who support and
those who oppose greater integration into the global economy.
European integration, with growing divides between pro-
Europe and Eurosceptic factions.
, The rise of these cleavages has shifted the focus of political
competition from traditional issues like labor rights and
industrial policy to issues of identity, migration, and national
sovereignty.
- Impact on Political Parties and Party Systems:
New parties and movements have emerged in response to the
changing cleavages, particularly on the right-wing populist and
green sides.
Right-wing populist parties capitalize on nationalist sentiments
and concerns over immigration, often positioning themselves
against the political establishment and European integration.
Green parties and progressive movements focus on
environmentalism, social justice, and multiculturalism, aligning
with the more liberal cultural values.
These new parties have challenged the dominance of traditional
center-left and center-right parties, leading to fragmentation and
polarization in party systems across Europe.
This fragmentation has made elections less predictable and has
led to more coalition governments and political instability in many
Western European countries.
- Voter Behavior and Partisanship:
The changing cleavage structure has also led to shifts in voter
behavior. Increasingly, voters' political affiliations are driven by
issues like immigration, cultural identity, and European
integration, rather than traditional factors like social class.
There is growing electoral volatility, with voters switching parties
more frequently. This change reflects a broader sense of political
discontent and a lack of trust in traditional political elites.
Political parties are increasingly finding it difficult to maintain a
clear and stable electoral base, as ideological divisions become
more fluid.
- Cross-National Variation and the Role of Context:
Ford and Jennings emphasize that the changing cleavage politics
of Western Europe are not uniform across countries.
The intensity and nature of new cleavages vary depending on
national context, including historical, cultural, and institutional
factors.
For instance, countries with stronger traditions of political
consensus (like the Nordic states) may experience different
cleavage dynamics than more fragmented political systems (such
as in Italy or the UK).
,
