Rational Parties, Radical Voters? Fringe Party Recruitment Strategies at the National & European Levels

Daniel, William T. (2015) Rational Parties, Radical Voters? Fringe Party Recruitment Strategies at the National & European Levels. [Conference Proceedings] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction: Scholars and practitioners alike have long noted the relative lack of interest in European Parliament (EP) elections, both on the part of the voting public and from mainstream national politicians (Hix and Marsh 2007; Hobolt, Spoon, and Tilley 2009; Reif and Schmitt 1980; Reif 1984; Schmitt 2005). Within the academic literature, this has led to a characterization of EP elections as being ‘second order’ in interest to both European voters and political parties, as compared with national political contests. It also contributes to portrayals of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as a klatch of political amateurs, retirees, or fringe extremists—even as the real legislative powers of the EP have greatly expanded since the initiation of direct European elections in 1979 (Kreppel 2002).

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