HOW NICHE PARTIES CAN CHANGE MAINSTREAM PARTY STRATEGIES A quantitative content analysis of local parties

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyse how niche parties influence mainstream parties’ strategies on the local level. The municipal election of Gothenburg 2018 is used as the case for the study. As material, the thesis used budget directives presented in the city council and opinion articles. Theory: The position, saliency, and ownership theory. Method: Quantitative Content Analysis. Result: The thesis found evidence that suggests that local parties influence mainstream parties. These results are similar to those on the national level. However, these effects seem to depend on the issue and on the party itself. While valence issues elicit “accommodating” responses, reactions of mainstream parties on positional issues tend to be muted.