Why do voters support niche parties

Bibliographic Data

ID6315482
AuthorsDieter Stiers (0000-0001-7242-8477, Centre for Political Science Research, Belgium, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume31
Issue5
Pages881-891
Publication date2025-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueParty Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1354-0688 • E-ISSN: 1460-3683
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/13540688241273930
OpenAlexW4401639332
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited44

Niche parties have gained substantial political ground in many liberal democracies. While party behaviour scholars have examined which strategies these parties can use to increase their electoral success, less is known about the individual-level determinants of support for niche parties. In this study, I investigate why voters support niche parties. Building on previous research, I hypothesise that niche voting can be driven both by ideological considerations and by voter discontent. Analyses on 61 elections in 28 countries show that voters support niche parties mostly because of policy considerations – such as their ideological position and core issues – and less because of dissatisfaction with mainstream parties. These results show that a niche vote is in the first place a policy-driven vote and not a sign of protest with mainstream politics, and this finding holds important implications for our understanding of electoral results

Economics · Ideology · Mainstream · Niche · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Position (finance · Sign (mathematics · Sociology · Voting · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Populism, Right-Wing Movements · Social Media and Politics

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