Original scientific paper
Andrija Henjak
orcid.org/0000-0003-4783-5796
; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The article analyses the reasons behind the establishment of the asymmetrical
pattern of mobilization of party support in the Croatian party system after 1990.
It aims to asses to what extent linkages between parties and voters aff ect the
volatility of electoral support. The argument starts with an observation that
electoral support for HDZ was very stable throughout the period after the 1990
elections, while the support for left and centre parties exhibited a high degree of
volatility in each election since 1990. The article posits that the reasons behind
this pattern of shifts in electoral support lies in the type of linkages between
parties and voters based on symbols and values shaped over a longer period of
time, which were mobilized in the party system in 1990s and established stable
linkages between parties and voters, eff ectively preventing any transmission of
support across party bloc lines. Reasons behind the formation of asymmetrical
pattern of mobilization lie in the fact that HDZ voters identify with their party
based on values and symbols linked with the party itself, while voters of left
and centre parties identify more with values these parties represent, more or
less eff ectively, than with the parties themselves. Empirical analysis of factors
shaping party voter linkages fi nds that attitudes toward religion; history and
traditional values are principal factors defi ning linkages between parties and
voters. But at the same time, it appears that the character of these linkages
is changing over time and that it depends on coalition patterns and shifts in
messages of the party leadership.
Keywords
party mobilisation; Croatian partz system; Croatian elections; HDZ
Hrčak ID:
145905
URI
Publication date:
5.4.2011.
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