Politicians in Hard Times : Spanish and South European MPs Facing Citizens After the Great Recession

This book analyses the Spanish parliamentary elites in a comparative perspective within southern Europe. What has been the impact of the Great Recession on the configuration of parliaments and the diversity of legislators? Have new parties delivered better representation of citizens in terms of demographics (gender, age, social class), ideology or political attitudes and beliefs? This original research is based on a 2018 survey on members of two national chambers and 17 regional parliaments. Comparing these data with those of a simultaneous survey carried out on Spanish citizens and with data from previous research a decade ago, the book examines the changes that have occurred in representation during the course of the Great Recession and provides evidence of the growing distance between citizens and parliamentary elites. Additionally, using data from the Comparative Candidates Survey, the book compares the ideological congruence between citizens and their representatives in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. Xavier Coller is Professor in the Department of Political Science at the Unversidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Spain. He has taught in several universities in Europe and the US. He has authored or co-authored over a hundred works on social theories, research methods, collective identities, complex organizations, and political elites. Leonardo Sánchez-Ferrer is Professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Burgos, Spain. He has taught and researched in different European universities. He has authored or co- authored works on public policies, educational reforms, voting, political elites and leaders Acknowledgements Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Democracy, Politicians and Citizens Crises Transforming Democracies Citizens, Parties, and Countries Surveys and Fieldwork Plan of the Book References Chapter 2: Do MPs Represent Us? Introduction Descriptive Representation Data and Methods Do MPs Resemble Us? Social Class: Where Do Parliamentarians Come From? Conclusions Annex References Chapter 3: The Personality of MPs and Citizens: Differentiation and Congruence Introduction Personality and Politics Research Design and Methodology Results Conclusions References Chapter 4: Political Socialisation Introduction Primary Political Socialisation Socialisation, Political Aspirations and Experiences Parliamentary Socialisation Conclusions References Chapter 5: New Political Scenario, New Motivations? Introduction The Study of Motivations Motivations for Politics Explaining the Motivations Conclusions References Chapter 6: Democratic, Yet Representative? Selecting MPs in a Multilevel Polity Introduction Parties Selecting Candidates Goals and Expectations MPs’ Selection in Different Parties Age, Education and Candidate Selection Gender and Candidate Selection Conclusions References Chapter 7: Obliged to Respond? MPs’ Modes of Political Representation Introduction Perceptions of Representative Role Social Links and Opinions About Democracy Different Modes of MPs’ Representation Conclusions References Chapter 8: Responsiveness Towards Street Protests: MPs’ and citizens’ Normative Views Introduction The Responsiveness Norm and MP-Citizen Congruence Exploring the Gap: Role or Political Culture? Results Conclusions Annex References Chapter 9: How Democracy Works: Divergent Perspectives of Representatives and Citizens Introduction Satisfaction with Democracy Parliaments and Citizens The Impact of Disparities Between Representatives and the Represented Conclusion: Tying Together the Findings References Chapter 10: Elite and Citizens’ Attitudes Towards Territorial Organisation Introduction1 Spanish Territorial Organisation Theory Data and Results Main Findings and Conclusions References Chapter 11: Territorial and National Identities in Times of Change Introduction Territorial Identities: Continuity or Change? Identities: The Partisan Composition of Parliaments The Social Foundations of Identities Conclusions References Chapter 12: Euroscepticism in Spain: A Phenomenon of Extremes? Introduction The Literature on Euroscepticism Euroscepticism in Spain Methodology Satisfaction with the EU Spain in the EU Functioning of Democracy Satisfaction with Democracy and EU Membership Control Variables’ Interpretation Conclusion References Chapter 13: Ideological Congruence Following the Great Recession Introduction Theory and Hypothesis Data and Methodology Analysis and Results Conclusions References Chapter 14: Ideological and Policy Congruence in Italy and Spain Introduction Representation and Party System Change Two Unusual Elections Data and Methods Congruence by Party Congruence at the Individual Level Conclusions References Chapter 15: Ideological Coherence Within Parties: Portugal and Spain Introduction Ideological Coherence and Intra-party Politics Context and Hypotheses Data and Methods Findings Conclusions Appendix References Chapter 16: Are Challengers Better Representatives? Greece and Spain Introduction Congruence in Substantive Representation Challengers and Substantive Representation The Rise of Challengers Data and Methodology Findings Conclusions References Chapter 17: Left-Right Ideological Congruence in Southern Europe Introduction Context of Political Change Theoretical Discussion Data and Methods Ideological Congruence Conclusions References Chapter 18: Leadership in Hard Times? New Parties, Enduring Elites A More Responsive Representation? Identities and the Territorial Dimension Ideological Congruence The Quality of Democracy References Index This book analyses the Spanish parliamentary elites in a comparative perspective within southern Europe. What has been the impact of the Great Recession on the configuration of parliaments and the diversity of legislators? Have new parties delivered better representation of citizens in terms of demographics (gender, age, social class), ideology or political attitudes and beliefs? This original research is based on a 2018 survey on members of two national chambers and 17 regional parliaments. Comparing these data with those of a simultaneous survey carried out on Spanish citizens and with data from previous research a decade ago, the book examines the changes that have occurred in representation during the course of the Great Recession and provides evidence of the growing distance between citizens and parliamentary elites. Additionally, using data from the Comparative Candidates Survey, the book compares the ideological congruence between citizens and their representatives in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. Xavier Coller is Professor in the Department of Political Science at the Unversidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Spain. He has taught in several universities in Europe and the US. He has authored or co-authored over a hundred works on social theories, research methods, collective identities, complex organizations, and political elites. Leonardo Sánchez-Ferrer is Professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Burgos, Spain. He has taught and researched in different European universities. He has authored or co- authored works on public policies, educational reforms, voting, political elites and leaders