Cleavage formation in Norway: The contextual dimension

    Authors

    B. S. Kinsey

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Scand. Polit. Stud.

    Keywords

    SOCIAL-STRUCTURE; MOBILIZATION; BEHAVIOR; CHOICE; CHILE; Political Science

    Abstract

    To explore the mechanism underlying the formation and persistence of cleavage structures the author applies a contextual approach in the case of Norway where regional variation in political cleavages persists over time. This study focuses on the time period between 1890 and 1930, the formative years of the Norwegian party system. The premise of the argument is that a factor contributing to persisting patterns of electoral mobilization is the location of new voters in patterns of social interaction deriving from the class composition in different regions. Initial electoral mobilizations coupled with enduring social structures can be carried on for a long time. These social conditions may pose high costs of mobilization to new parties in a political system. The article shows the persistence of a distinct class composition across regions in Norway and demonstrates the contextual effect by examining the behaviour of new voters in the 1900 election. It evaluates the contextual argument against other party incentives for mobilization by means of a statistical model that incorporates contextual incentives in addition to incentives deriving from electoral rules and political competition.

    Journal Title

    Scandinavian Political Studies

    Volume

    29

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2006

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    261

    Last Page

    283

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000239775900005

    ISSN

    0080-6757

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