The Cycle of Coalition
How Parties and Voters Interact under Coalition Governance

Presents a theory and analysis of the relationship between parties and voters throughout the legislative period under coalition governance.

David Fortunato (Author)

9781108819879, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 12 October 2023

239 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.395 kg

'Even in countries where such bargaining is essential for policy responsiveness, voters are suspicious of party compromises and doubt their chosen parties will represent them well in coalition governments. To reassure their supporters and sustain their brand, parties in coalitions attack and amend their partners' policy proposals. Fortunato offers an appealing model of a dynamic cycle of compromise and differentiation. He enhances its credibility with field experiments, panel voter surveys, and comparative analyses of party legislative behavior. The disastrous experience of the British Liberal Democrats offers a compelling illustration of failure to push such confrontation adequately. A consistent message, sophisticated analyses and many challenging insights make this an immensely valuable book.' G. Bingham Powell, University of Rochester

How does coalition governance shape voters' perceptions of government parties and how does this, in turn, influence party behaviors? Analyzing cross-national panel surveys, election results, experiments, legislative amendments, media reports, and parliamentary speeches, Fortunato finds that coalition compromise can damage parties' reputations for competence as well as their policy brands in the eyes of voters. This incentivizes cabinet partners to take stands against one another throughout the legislative process in order to protect themselves from potential electoral losses. The Cycle of Coalition has broad implications for our understanding of electoral outcomes, partisan choices in campaigns, government formation, and the policy-making process, voters' behaviors at the ballot box, and the overall effectiveness of governance.

1. A lesson learned too late
2. Motivation and promise
3. Parties and voters under coalition governance
4. Perceptions of coalition compromise
5. Costs of coalition compromise
6. Collective responsibility and differentiation
7. What could go wrong?
8. Does it ever go right?
9. Pushing forward.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Political parties [JPL], Political ideologies [JPF], Comparative politics [JPB]