1. Satisfaction with Democracy and the Winner/Loser Debate: The Role of Policy Preferences and Past Experience.
- Author
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CURINI, LUIGI, JOU, WILLY, and MEMOLI, VINCENZO
- Subjects
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POLITICAL science , *POLITICIANS , *DEMOCRACY , *POLITICAL doctrines , *REPUBLICS , *REPRESENTATIVE government , *EQUALITY , *REGRESSION analysis , *GOVERNMENT policy , *COMPARATIVE government - Abstract
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
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