Regional Electoral Politics and the Transformation of States

Processes of de-centralisation across Western Europe have created new electoral arenas below the state where distinctive patterns of party competition have emerged. In many places, state-wide parties face intense competition from ethnoregionalist parties for control of regional institutions. The outcome of this electoral struggle can have important implications for the constitutional integrity of states, as successful ethnoregionalist parties can place new pressures on the state to enhance regional autonomy.

This project investigates the factors that impact on the electoral performance of state-wide and ethnoregionalist parties at the regional level. It undertakes a comparative analysis of the electoral strategies adopted by political parties, as they try to respond to the twin imperatives of popular preferences and the competitive moves of competitors. The study also investigates the factors that shape parties' decisions about how to compete in regional elections, and which may lead to the adoption of sub-optimal electoral strategies.

The project will undertake detailed empirical study of regional electoral politics in five cases: Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia, Scotland and Wales.

Dr Anwen Elias is the Principal Investigator on this project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, as part of a three year New Career Development Fellowship (NCF/36360).