Cleavage theory and quantitative methods in political science
https://doi.org/10.31249/poln/2023.04.04
Abstract
The article demonstrates how the use of mathematical methods deepens and expands the possibilities of studying electoral cleavages and political (sub)dimensions. It is noted that factor analysis makes it possible to reveal not only the main cleavage, but also less noticeable, lying in its shadow, as well as to reduce the set of inter-party confrontations on individual issues into political (issue) dimensions and sub-dimensions in issue domains.
Further, correlation and regression analyses provide an opportunity to check to what extent the space of electoral divisions is congruent with the space of political (sub)dimensions and socio-demographic factors. The resulting indicators – factor loadings of electoral cleavages, political (sub)dimensions and socio-demographic factors, determination coefficients – form the basis for creation of new tools for measuring cleavages: coefficients of maximum and effective range, as well as politicization and socialization coefficients of electoral cleavages.
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