New research shows political events, particularly elections, can strengthen ideological coherence in welfare politics.
This study introduces an event-based theory of attitude crystallization. It argues that elections triggering a partisan majority encourage individuals to solidify their existing beliefs about the welfare state. The hypothesis suggests these electoral moments draw out latent predispositions, leading to more consistent opinions.
Using 11 Danish surveys spanning four decades combined with official local election records, we apply a regression discontinuity design. This method allows us to examine how attitude consistency changes around elections that produce partisan majorities.
Our findings reveal a clear effect: elections against one's ideological leanings increase the coherence of welfare state attitudes among citizens. The results demonstrate the dynamic nature of public opinion and highlight the significance of regular political events in shaping it.
This work offers insights into how electoral contexts influence attitude formation, providing a nuanced understanding beyond previous "nonattitudes" research.
