Talking locally and voting globally - Duverger's Law and homoeneous discussion networks

Authored by Emily Clough

Date Published: 2007-09

DOI: 10.1177/1065912907305681

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: C++

Model Documentation: Other Narrative

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

The heterogeneity of discussion networks has been shown to have an effect on citizens' ideas and behavior. In this article, the author undertakes to show that the relative heterogeneity of political discussion networks affects voter coordination on two parties in a single-member plurality system. Specifically, if voters do not have access to polling information about the relative standing of candidates, voters whose discussion networks are ideologically heterogeneous are more likely to coordinate on two parties than voters whose discussion networks are ideologically homogeneous. The author examines this hypothesis using an agent-based model.

Tags

Political Parties Duverger's Law discussion networks