TY - CHAP

T1 - Party Workers, Ambassadors, Veterans and All the Other Party Members

AU - Kosiara-Pedersen, Karina

AU - Heidar, Knut

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - They are in the streets with folders, balloons, and sweets at election time, their letters to the editor are found in the debate sections of newspapers, and they are clapping at the celebration of the party chair’s speech in the televised transmission from the party’s annual meeting. However, while many party members engage in a plethora of party activities, some clearly participate more than others. What dimensions are found in party member activism across the parties? We find that two dimensions come through in all the factor analyses. The main dimension in the participation of Scandinavian party members is termed ‘party workers’ and is characterized by a broad range of activities such as attending meetings, participating in campaigns, influencing policies, and holding office. Next, we find a ‘veteran’ dimension capturing members that have held party or public office in the past. We also identify a ‘party ambassadors’ dimension in most surveys, covering party activities targeting voters and the public arena. The differences in member types do not change much. We find that the online ambassadors are on the rise, but that the balance between internal and outreach member activism is about the same over time.

AB - They are in the streets with folders, balloons, and sweets at election time, their letters to the editor are found in the debate sections of newspapers, and they are clapping at the celebration of the party chair’s speech in the televised transmission from the party’s annual meeting. However, while many party members engage in a plethora of party activities, some clearly participate more than others. What dimensions are found in party member activism across the parties? We find that two dimensions come through in all the factor analyses. The main dimension in the participation of Scandinavian party members is termed ‘party workers’ and is characterized by a broad range of activities such as attending meetings, participating in campaigns, influencing policies, and holding office. Next, we find a ‘veteran’ dimension capturing members that have held party or public office in the past. We also identify a ‘party ambassadors’ dimension in most surveys, covering party activities targeting voters and the public arena. The differences in member types do not change much. We find that the online ambassadors are on the rise, but that the balance between internal and outreach member activism is about the same over time.

UR - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781785523267/Nordic-Party-Members-Linkages-in-Troubled-Times

M3 - Book chapter

SN - 9781785523250

SP - 157

EP - 174

BT - Nordic Party Members

A2 - Demker, Marie

A2 - Heidar, Knut

A2 - Kosiara-Pedersen, Karina

PB - Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

CY - London

ER -