Intra–Party Democracy and Responsiveness to Rival Parties’ Policies

Objective: We address whether intraparty democracy conditions political parties' responsiveness to rival parties' policy shifts. Method: We estimate parameters of a spatial econometric model of parties' policy positions in eleven established democracies. Results: Internally democratic parties respond to shifts in rival parties' policies, and internally undemocratic parties do no t respond rival parties' policy shifts. Conclusion: We argue that this occurs because intra-party deliberation provides a channel through which rival parties influence their competitors' policies. Because rank-and-file party members are influenced by deliberative processes more than party leaders, and the policy goals of internally democratic parties' policies are heavily influenced by their party members deliberative processes lead democratic parties to respond to shifts in rival parties' policy positions. This work has important implication s for our understanding of parties' election strategies, intra-party politics, and how policies diffuse between parties competing in the same election.