When Parties Matter:
The Conditional Influence of Party Positions
on Voter Opinions about European Integration.
Paper presented at the 2001 Western Political Science Association annual meeting
Abstract
The literature on public support for European integration often suggests that political elites play an important role shaping public attitudes towards the European Union. However, empirical findings to date reveal an inconsistent pattern of political effects with partisan variables predicting individual opinion in some contexts, but not in others. Using data from the Eurobarometer series of surveys, this paper tetsts hypotheses to explain national, partisan, and individual level variations in the strength of the party/voter connection. The results support the hypothesis that disagreement among parties increases the distinctiveness and persuasiveness of party positions. Party unity and issue salience are also found to increase the persuasiveness of party cues. Individuals with higher levels of party attachment are also the most influenced by the positions taken by parties. These results help to explain when and where political parties will exercise the greatest, and the least, influence over public opinion.