The more the merrier? Exploring the relationship between political polarisation, inclusive candidate selection processes and satisfaction with democra

The more the merrier? Exploring the relationship between political polarisation, inclusive candidate selection processes and satisfaction with democracy

Despite trends towards more inclusive party leadership contests in advanced democracies, the impact of these reforms on voter perception remains unknown. For example, did the British Labour Party's reduction of membership fees in 2015 change voters' attitudes towards wider democracy? In this study, I will develop and test a theory of intra-party politics focused on the relationship between internal party democracy and the wider political environment. I argue that these contests are critical for understanding the rise of extreme candidates and party leaders, which ultimately contributes to a wide-spread decline in voter satisfaction with democracy in numerous advanced democracies. Whilst past research finds that perceptions of democracy within the party improve voter perceptions of the broader political system, this research has tended to overlook the influence of the wider electoral environment and how this effects such perceptions. I thus propose that the political environment ultimately moderates the effect of internal rules on voter perceptions and satisfaction with democracy. To test this, I will use a mixed-methods approach that combines a cross-national quantitative analysis with in-depth qualitative evidence on perceptions of party change and a comparative survey experiment in England and Scotland. The results will hold implications for theories of intra-party politics, perceptions of democratic legitimacy and ongoing debates related to political reforms in numerous advanced democracies. To this end, I will issue a brief to key parties in the United Kingdom outlining not only the optimal candidate selection process to increase democratic satisfaction, but also the key contextual considerations