Text-as-data methods reveal mixed success in party policy diffusion across Western democracies. This study examines nineteen countries from 1960-2016, finding that successful parties resist changing their manifestos when borrowing occurs. However, regional cultural reference groups significantly influence adoption patterns within European Parliament factions regardless of election outcomes.

➡️ Key Findings:

• Success breeds resistance to change

• Regional alignment trumps national context in EP settings

• Anchoring effects persist despite electoral success/loss

💡 Methodology Highlights:

• Manifesto similarity analysis (1960-2016)

• Machine translation for text comparison

• Quantitative approach tracking policy dyads across time

This work illuminates the complex conditions shaping political adaptation and borrowing.