Irish Political Studies Parties and Referendums in Ireland 1937–2011 (original) (raw)

Candidates or parties? Objects of electoral choice in Ireland

2007

Abstract Under many electoral systems, voters can choose between candidates, and, under some systems, between candidates of the same party—a situation that makes it possible for candidates to seek a personal vote. Studies of some countries have shown how personal voting is apparent in the success of particular types of candidates, notably incumbents, but there is little systematic study of personal motives among the electors themselves.

Voter behavior under STV-PR: Solving the puzzle of the Irish party system

Political Behavior, 1991

This paper examines voter preferences when voters are allowed to rank order large numbers of candidates both within and between different parties (STV-PR). How voters complete such a ballot has consequences both for models of voting behaviour and also for patterns of party competition. More concretely, although such a system should promote a great deal of candidate centered voting behaviour, this does not, in fact, seem to occur for the case we examine. While Irish voters do seem to exhibit multiple party loyalties they are, nevertheless, party and not candidate specific loyalties. The consequences of this for both a Michigan account of party loyalty and also standard interpretations of Irish party competition are discussed.

Party identification in Ireland: An insecure anchor for a floating party system

2006

The Republic of Ireland provides an interesting case in which to explore party identification as, like the US, it has a party system not closely aligned to social structures as well an electoral system, the single transferable vote, which allows voting across party lines. This article uses data from the first Irish Elections Study to explore the strength of party identification in Ireland and assess its value as a basis of political stability.

Irish Political Parties and Policy Stances on European Integration

Irish Political Studies, 2009

A BSTRACT Support for the political and economic integration of Europe has formed an increasingly important policy issue for Irish political parties as the European Union has grown in importance at both the domestic and European level. This article examines the political positioning of Irish parties on the issue of European integration, comparing these positions across parties and across time. For data, it draws on expert surveys taken at each election since 1992, a time series of coded manifestos as well as a computerized content analysis of the 2007 party manifestos. The article also reports the results of a previously unpublished expert survey of Irish party positions on other political dimensions conducted by the author in 2007.

Ireland's EU Referendum Experience

Irish Political Studies, 2009

A BSTRACT The purpose of this article is twofold. First, it surveys Ireland's European Union referendum experience, tracing the key actors, issues and political dynamics of seven European referendums from 1973 to 2008. It unpicks the institutional rules of the referendum game in Ireland stemming from the McKenna and Coughlan judgements, the operation of the Referendum Commission and the effect of this institutional environment on referendum campaigns and outcomes. Second, building on a framework originally developed by Darcy and Laver (1990), this article investigates the emergence of a dynamic in Irish referendums on EU treaties with two key elements: elite withdrawal and populist capture.

Stability of Economic Voting in Dominant Party Systems: The case of Ireland

2010

Abstract: This paper takes a long run perspective to examine the stability of a popularity function and possible contextual reasons for that stability/instability. It uses new data to estimate a popularity function for the dominant Irish party, Fianna Fail,(FF) for the period 1974 2010, a much longer period than is covered in any previous analysis. While FF has remained the dominant party over this period, the economy has run the full gamut from bust to boom and back again.

Changing party fortunes: party competition and public opinion at the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of 2003

2005

Simply surviving to reach a second regularly scheduled election was something of a triumph for the Northern Ireland Assembly and the peace process. Not one of the earlier Assemblies, Conventions, or Forums elected since the end of the Stormont regime in 1972 have had a second term. However, given the results of the 2001 Westminster elections, the once dominant parties in their respective blocs-the UUP and SDLP-were bound to view the crucial 2003 elections with some trepidation.

Punch bags for heavyweights? Minor parties in Irish government

2010

A BSTRACT While for much of the twentieth century Irish governments consisted of single parties, coalition government is now much more common. Furthermore, it is usual for minor parties to be part of these governments. This article looks at why minor parties come into existence, their policy performance in government and the electoral impact of government on minor parties. It is argued that the three are related -that minor parties emerge when larger parties have problems of policy 'appropriateness' (a large party is not seen as credible to deliver or cannot advocate certain non-mainstream policies) and 'governability' (a larger party is not widely seen as an acceptable/credible basis for a potential government). Larger parties take minor parties into government to solve both problems and 'concede' policy to them, which may have the effect of 'smothering' the minor party in government, leading to its demise.