Comparative Politics

B10 - Responsiveness and Representation

Date: May 31 | Time: 10:30am to 12:00pm | Location: Classroom - CL 305 Room ID:15717

Chair/Président/Présidente : Andrew Patterson (University of Alberta)

Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Richard Johnston (University of British Columbia)

Service Representation in Three Parliamentary Democracies: Royce Koop (University of Manitoba), Kelly Blidook (Memorial University of Newfoundland)
Abstract: Service representation—the extent to which Members of Parliament (MPs) assist both individuals and groups in their constituencies in solving problems—has become an increasingly important aspect of MPs’ jobs since the 1950s. We explore the different ways that MPs in parliamentary democracies both build and maintain service connections with their constituents. We draw upon ethnographic observation of 6 MPs while they were engaged in representational activities in their constituencies, two each in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. We demonstrate that while the broad outlines of service representation are similar for all MPs, the nuances of these service-oriented representational styles differ substantially. We present preliminary observations about the influences that shape these MPs’ service-oriented representational styles, including differences between the MPs and the districts they represent. Further, institutional and party-level differences in these three democracies may help to shape how MPs engage in service.

840.Koop.Blidook.pdf

Policy Congruence in Comparative Perspective: Benjamin Ferland (University of Ottawa)
Abstract: The paper examines the relationship between public opinion and enacted policies. While previous studies examine this relationship in terms of ideological congruence or policy responsiveness, few studies examine directly the link between citizen preferences and governments' enacted policies. We address this gap in the literature and examine the impact of electoral rules on the public-policy connection in advanced democracies. We expect levels of policy congruence to be greater under majoritarian systems than under PR systems given that governments have greater electoral incentives and the capacity to act on these incentives under the majoritarian electoral systems. We use data from the International Social Survey Programme to locate citizen preferences and the OECD social expenditure database to measure government policies.

Measuring the Assurances of Female Political Leaders: Hillary Clinton on the Campaign Trail: Cristine de Clercy (Western University)
Abstract: A well-established maxim within the political leadership literature holds that most leaders, most of the time, seek to assure citizens in their public communications (Popkin, 1994; Burns, 1978). The provision of such certainty is thought to be integral to the exercise of leadership: uncertain citizens seek advice and reassurance, and so they turn to political leaders who can provide such goods (Downs, 1957). This understanding has been studied empirically mainly with respect to male leaders (de Clercy, 2005). This study asks: do female political leader also communicate certainty to citizens and, if so, how may such messages compare with those of male leaders? Some analysts find gender does structure leadership communications (e.g. Canary and Hause, 2009). The core hypothesis tested here proposes gender does not influence the communication of certainty. The study focuses on Hillary Clinton, the first woman to campaign for the American presidency. The hypothesis is evaluated by analysing the content of Clinton’s three televised 2016 presidential debate performances, along with a sample of her campaign speeches, using Atlas.ti (a qualitative content analysis program). These findings are compared with the same speech sets for her opponent, Donald Trump. Then, these values are compared with similar data for a sample of four other male national political leaders (Carter; Ford; Obama; and G.W. Bush). The study finds there is no systematic, significant difference in how she communicated assurances to citizens in comparison with her colleagues.

1025.deClercy.pdf