Economic inequality significantly influences how voters perceive political parties.

Data & Methods:

Drawing from psychological theory, survey data was analyzed to assess voter perceptions of over 700 parties across more than 110 elections worldwide. This comprehensive approach revealed a clear class-based bias in party placement perception.

Findings:

In unequal societies, poorer and wealthier voters misperceive political positions differently. Richer voters tend to align with right-leaning parties while the less affluent favor left-leaning ones. This divergence is particularly pronounced for ideological extremes but not centrist platforms.

Why It Matters:

Representative democracy relies on shared perceptions of political ideologies. These findings suggest that fundamental assumptions about voter consensus may be challenged in unequal societies.