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Neither a Trait nor Wildly Fluctuating: On the Stability of Populist Attitudes and its Implications for Empirical Research
[journal article]
Abstract The literature on populist attitudes frequently makes one of two assumptions: populist attitudes are either stable or unstable. However, few studies have examined these diverging assumptions empirically. We use panel data collected over six panel waves between 2017 and 2021 in Germany to assess the ... view more
The literature on populist attitudes frequently makes one of two assumptions: populist attitudes are either stable or unstable. However, few studies have examined these diverging assumptions empirically. We use panel data collected over six panel waves between 2017 and 2021 in Germany to assess the stability of populist attitudes. Integrating inter-individual stability (variable-centred) and intra-individual stability (individual trajectories), we find that populist attitudes are neither fully stable (trait) nor fully flexible (state). For example, some respondents constantly changed their view on populism while the attitudes in one out of three individuals remained stable. We also explore empirical consequences and find that populist attitudes are more closely linked to vote choice when they are stable. Accordingly, we argue for a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics of populist attitudes, both at the variable and individual levels, where these attitudes are stable and consequential for only a subset of individuals.... view less
Keywords
populism; political attitude; stability; election; voting behavior; dynamism; empirical research; Federal Republic of Germany; ideology; Weltanschauung; public opinion
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
populist attitudes; attitudinal stability; multi-dimensional constructs; GLES Panel 2016-2021, Wellen 1-21 (ZA6838)
Document language
English
Publication Year
2023
Page/Pages
p. 979-992
Journal
British Journal of Political Science, 54 (2023) 3
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123423000492
ISSN
1469-2112
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed