Internal Party Democracy and Candidate Professionalism

• In Event: The Dynamics and Consequences of Internal Party Politics

Abstract

Why do some voters become party members while others do not? Previous research argues that individual-level characteristics, such as parental partisanship, education, and a sense of civic duty explain why some individuals become active in parties while others support parties from the sidelines or decide to abstain from participation altogether.

This paper advances this body of research by examining party-level factors that may influence the decision to join a party. I use a formal model to examine how membership varies with party institutions and locations, as well as government policy and ideological polarization. The model finds that just as party institutions shape voters' decisions to become members, members' positions affect party platforms and government policy.

Author

• Georgia Kernell, UCLA