Cohort: POLS 39
Topic of the thesis: The Strategic Balance Between Positional and Valence Issues in Party Competition
Abstract: This research proposal investigates the strategic behavior of political parties, focusing on how they balance positional and valence-based appeals in response to various contextual factors. The study comprises three interconnected papers, each examining a ditinct context of valence dynamics within party strategy. The first paper explores the strategic use of valence when parties undergo policy shifts, analyzing how valence-based appeals can stabilize voter support in times of ideological repositioning, particularly within coalition settings. The second paper examines the effect of positive economic indicators on valence emphasis, investigating how governing parties leverage favorable economic performance to enhance their competence and leadership image, while opposition parties may shift focus to positional economic issues, such as inequality. The third paper addresses valence responses to negative shocks through a conjoint experiment, specifically addressing how voters prioritize the significance of political scandals compared to other factors, such as candidates' party affiliation and policy positions, in their assessments of politicians. Using a comparative approach, this research employs quantitative and computational method, including text analysis with large language models, to understand the interplay between issue strategies and valence competition. By uncovering how these strategies shape party competition and electoral success, this research aims to contribute to a broader understanding of electoral dynamics and party strategy.
Research interests: Political Parties, Computational Method, Electoral Behavior, Crisis and Political Scandals, Quantitative Text Analysis, Survey Experiment
Graduated from: University of Milan-Bicocca (BA) – University of Milan (MA)
Degrees obtained: BA in Sociology – MA in Administration and Public Policy
E-mail address: stefano.sangiovanni@unimi.it
