Mapping Conceptions of Democracy among German Citizens

• In Event: Conceptions of Democracy among German and American Citizens and Political Elites

Abstract

Citizens hold different normative conceptions of democracy that influence their political attitudes and political behavior, such as satisfaction with democracy or vote choice. While existing research assumes that conceptions of democracy can exist side by side or in combination, we have little insight into whether citizens hold coherent attitudes toward the different conceptions of democracy and which conceptions are prevalent among the population. To fill this gap, this paper maps the conceptions of democracy of German citizens using Latent Class Analysis. Using twelve survey items covering attitudes ascribed to four different understandings of democracy – liberal, deliberative, populist, and socialist – we identify four distinct classes each of which holds a distinct combination of the four conceptions of democracy and features specific socioeconomic and political characteristics. Most notably, we identify a liberal-deliberative class, which tends to be more urban, better educated, and West German and shows significantly higher support for the Greens, and a socialist-deliberative class, that is particularly unfavorable towards liberal items, primarily East German, and shows significantly higher support for the AfD.

Authors

• Leonard Häfner, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

• Lea Stallbaum, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

• Jonas Wenker, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz