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Show 28 CHAPTER II COMPETING OR COMPLEMENTING? THE THREE EXPLANATORY CLUSTERS AND HYPOTHESES Chapter I introduced the project and discussed key definitions of niche parties and electoral fortunes, so it is now time to turn to the three primary explanations and variable clusters that stand out in the literature and existing research on niche parties: institutional, socioeconomic, and strategic. The existing explanations reflect the debate over agency and structure, two ways to shape behavior and outcomes. On the one hand there are structures, like institutions and socioeconomic conditions, that are relatively fixed features, or, at the very least, limit the choices available to the parties. The type of electoral system, an institution, or a period of unemployment, the socioeconomic conditions, for example, could be determining the electoral success of parties. On the other hand, there is agency-wherein the choices of the actors, rather than the structures, are a primary determinant of electoral success. The three explanations (institutions, socioeconomic conditions, and strategy) will each be addressed in separate sections that include an overview of the approach, a discussion of its mechanisms, the identification of key factors with illustrative examples drawn primarily from my four case study countries |
