Abstract
This paper develops a theory of wedge issue politics in modern democracies. It argues that wedge issues are associated with a politics of intransigence which differs from the politics of concessions that typically comes with non-wedge issues. This theory explains why Prime Minister Theresa May opted for a divisive approach to secure ratification of her Brexit agreement in the House of Commons. Due to the intra-partisan division within the Conservative Party, the government had an incentive to employ politics of intransigence. Playing a chicken game with recalcitrant party members, it relied on bargaining strategies to force party rebels to back down.' This politics of intransigence further deepened intra-partisan divisions and thus prompted both sides to harden their stance. This vicious circle not only brought the Conservative Party to a breaking point but eventually led to government failure.
Dokumententyp: | Zeitschriftenartikel |
---|---|
Fakultät: | Sozialwissenschaften > Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politikwissenschaft |
Themengebiete: | 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 320 Politik |
ISSN: | 1350-1763 |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Dokumenten ID: | 82110 |
Datum der Veröffentlichung auf Open Access LMU: | 15. Dez. 2021, 15:00 |
Letzte Änderungen: | 15. Dez. 2021, 15:00 |