The power of partisanship in Brazil: Evidence from survey experiments

David Samuels, Cesar Zucco

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

134 Scopus citations

Abstract

To what extent do party labels influence individuals' policy positions? Much research has examined this question in the United States, where party identification can generate both in-group and out-group pressures to conform to a party's position. However, relatively little research has considered the question's comparative generalizability. We explore the impact of party labels on attitudes in Brazil, a relatively new democracy with a fragmented party system. In such an environment, do parties function as in-groups, out-groups, or neither? We answer this question through two survey experiments, one conducted on a nationally representative sample and another on a convenience sample recruited via Facebook. We find that both in- and out-group cues shape the opinions of identifiers of Brazil's two main parties but that cues have no effect on nonpartisans. Results suggest that party identification can structure attitudes and behavior even in "party-averse" electoral environments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)212-225
Number of pages14
JournalAmerican Journal of Political Science
Volume58
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

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