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The Dynamics of Electoral Support: The Case of Norwegian Fremskrittspartiet
Krejčová, Eva ; Buben, Radek (advisor) ; Slačálek, Ondřej (referee)
This bachelor's thesis focuses on the dynamics of electoral support of Norwegian Fremskrittspartiet (FrP), classified here as 'functional equivalent' to the far right parties. It examines the puzzling decline in FrP's electoral support in the capital Oslo. The party's electoral support in Oslo was traditionally 30% higher than in the rest of Norway. However, since 2001, the trend has gone in the opposite direction and today, the party's electoral support in Oslo is 30% lower than in the country as a whole. I hypothesize, that this turnover was provoked by shifts in party's ideology. FrP has moved toward centre in the economic dimension and, more importantly, it has undertaken a significant authoritarian move in the cultural dimension. After analyzing the influence of both demand-side and supply-side factors on the FrP electoral support, I compare the changes in FrP's ideology with the development of Norwegian electorate's policy preferences. While not underestimating the demand-side factors and the institutional and political setting, I conclude that the party's internal development could be of crucial importance in order to understand the dynamics of its electoral support.
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The Dynamics of Electoral Support: The Case of Norwegian Fremskrittspartiet
Krejčová, Eva ; Buben, Radek (advisor) ; Slačálek, Ondřej (referee)
This bachelor's thesis focuses on the dynamics of electoral support of Norwegian Fremskrittspartiet (FrP), classified here as 'functional equivalent' to the far right parties. It examines the puzzling decline in FrP's electoral support in the capital Oslo. The party's electoral support in Oslo was traditionally 30% higher than in the rest of Norway. However, since 2001, the trend has gone in the opposite direction and today, the party's electoral support in Oslo is 30% lower than in the country as a whole. I hypothesize, that this turnover was provoked by shifts in party's ideology. FrP has moved toward centre in the economic dimension and, more importantly, it has undertaken a significant authoritarian move in the cultural dimension. After analyzing the influence of both demand-side and supply-side factors on the FrP electoral support, I compare the changes in FrP's ideology with the development of Norwegian electorate's policy preferences. While not underestimating the demand-side factors and the institutional and political setting, I conclude that the party's internal development could be of crucial importance in order to understand the dynamics of its electoral support.
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