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Week 11: Niche Parties: (Wagner: new definition of niche parties (3…
Week 11: Niche Parties:
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Jaffrelot: modifying the "moderation through inclusion" thesis: case of BJP and JS (Hindu nationalism) in India
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Modification of thesis: depends on electoral strategies, perception of Muslims, and relationship with mother organisation
JS: Moderation in order to participate in and reap the electoral gains of a coalition, and also constrained by strict secularism of Congress, but this moderation was shallow due to relationship with RSS (mother organisation)
BJP: Moderated at first due to need to join coalitions, but radicalised after due to Congress relaxing the secularism rule, and the effect of RSS using Babri Mosque to mobilise the voters along religious lines. Then moderated again due to need of forming a coalition to form government.
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Lynch et al
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Niche parties are parties that focus on a narrow set of issues outside the agenda of mainstream parties, and are beyond traditional class cleavages.
Dilemma of niche parties
In order to get more votes and thus seats in office, they need to expand their policy focus as well as moderate the stance of their niche issues to appeal to more voters
But when expanding their policy focus, they dilute the focus on their core issues --> lose support from old voter base as the niche issues are now moderated and no longer the focus
At the same time, vote from the moderates are not guaranteed because votes are likely to go to mainstream parties, who have dominated mainstream issues for longer and are thus seen as more competent
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