DIGSSCORE Seminar: Diverging Paths: Centre-Periphery and Urban-Rural Influences on Policy Support Among Norwegian Subnational Representatives

Berkay Alıca, PhD candidate at the Department of Comparative Politics at University of Bergen, will present for us today. His presentation is titled "Diverging Paths: Centre-Periphery and Urban-Rural Influences on Policy Support Among Norwegian Subnational Representatives".

The event is in a hybrid format, you are welcome to join us for lunch from the Corner room at DIGSSCORE. Food is provided on a first-come first-served basis. Zoom link for digital attendance.

Abstract:

One of the established findings in the literature is that elected representatives have different role perceptions and they may privilege representing their constituents/voters over representing their party or vice versa. We do not know much, however, about the factors that are driving representatives to lean towards their voters or to their party. This paper investigates the relationship between urban-rural identities and centre-periphery positions of political representatives, their party loyalties, and the preferences of their constituents regarding policy decisions. Focusing on the Norwegian context, the study employs an experimental approach to discern how conflicting views between party stance and constituent preferences shape local and regional representatives’ support for various policies. The findings reveal that especially in scenarios where the policy is related to the identity of a place or where the issue is contentious nationwide, the urban-rural and centre-periphery divisions play a significant role in representatives’ decisions. By examining the influence of urban-rural identities and centre-periphery positions on policy support, the research aims to contribute to understanding the mechanisms guiding representatives’ decision-making in democratic settings.