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Why Do Voters in Monarchies Support Political Parties? Evidence from Morocco and Jordan
Abstract
This paper highlights survey results from Morocco and Jordan that assess correlates of individual support for political parties in hybrid monarchical-electoral regimes. Why individuals living under these regimes support political parties rather than individuals in their community or tribe can be puzzling, especially in regimes where political parties are weak compared with other political actors. In Jordan, political parties are especially weak and generally promote Islamist ideologies. In Morocco, support for specific political parties has fluctuated significantly between elections, but the party system continues to play an important role in organizing political activity. Analysis suggests that support for political parties in weak party systems like Morocco and Jordan is correlated with economic status, urbanization, and the identity salience of social groups, characteristics that lead voters to use political party affiliation to articulate marginalized identities associated with their role in society. Support for political parties can also be used as a low risk form of protest against the monarchy, leading even electorally successful political parties to play a primary role as opposition actors in the hybrid regime.
Discipline
Political Science
Geographic Area
Jordan
Morocco
Sub Area
None