Context, conversation and conviction: Social networks and voting at the 1992 British general election

Political Studies

Volumn 47, Issue 5, 1999, Pages 877-889

  Pattie, Charles ^a   Johnston, Ron ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0006817211     PISSN: 00323217     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/1467-9248.00235     Document Type: Article

References (34)

1. J. Agnew, Place and Politics (London, Allen and Unwin, 1987); J. Agnew, 'Mapping politics: how context counts in electoral geography', Political Geography, 15 (1996), 129-46. For a dissenting view, see I. McAllister and D. Studlar, 'Region and voting in Britain: territorial polarization or artefact?', American Journal of Political Science, 36 (1992), 168-99.
2. J. Agnew, Place and Politics (London, Allen and Unwin, 1987); J. Agnew, 'Mapping politics: how context counts in electoral geography', Political Geography, 15 (1996), 129-46. For a dissenting view, see I. McAllister and D. Studlar, 'Region and voting in Britain: territorial polarization or artefact?', American Journal of Political Science, 36 (1992), 168-99.
3. J. Agnew, Place and Politics (London, Allen and Unwin, 1987); J. Agnew, 'Mapping politics: how context counts in electoral geography', Political Geography, 15 (1996), 129-46. For a dissenting view, see I. McAllister and D. Studlar, 'Region and voting in Britain: territorial polarization or artefact?', American Journal of Political Science, 36 (1992), 168-99.
4. C. J. Pattie, D. Dorling and R. J. Johnston, 'The electoral politics of recession: local economic conditions, public perceptions and the economic vote in the 1992 British General Election', Transactions, Institute of British Geographers, NS 22 (1997), 147-61; C. J. Pattie, R. J. Johnston and E. A. Fieldhouse, 'Winning the local vote: the effectiveness of constituency campaign spending in Great Britain', American Political Science Review, 89 (1995), 969-83; D. Denver and G. Hands, Modern Constituency Electioneering (London, Frank Cass, 1997); D. Denver and K. Halfacree, 'Inter-constituency migration and party support in Britain', Political Studies, 40 (1992), 571-80; D. McMahon, A. Heath, M. Harrop and J. Curtice, 'The electoral consequences of north-south migration', British Journal of Political Science, 22 (1992), 419-43.
5. C. J. Pattie, D. Dorling and R. J. Johnston, 'The electoral politics of recession: local economic conditions, public perceptions and the economic vote in the 1992 British General Election', Transactions, Institute of British Geographers, NS 22 (1997), 147-61; C. J. Pattie, R. J. Johnston and E. A. Fieldhouse, 'Winning the local vote: the effectiveness of constituency campaign spending in Great Britain', American Political Science Review, 89 (1995), 969-83; D. Denver and G. Hands, Modern Constituency Electioneering (London, Frank Cass, 1997); D. Denver and K. Halfacree, 'Inter-constituency migration and party support in Britain', Political Studies, 40 (1992), 571-80; D. McMahon, A. Heath, M. Harrop and J. Curtice, 'The electoral consequences of north-south migration', British Journal of Political Science, 22 (1992), 419-43.
6. C. J. Pattie, D. Dorling and R. J. Johnston, 'The electoral politics of recession: local economic conditions, public perceptions and the economic vote in the 1992 British General Election', Transactions, Institute of British Geographers, NS 22 (1997), 147-61; C. J. Pattie, R. J. Johnston and E. A. Fieldhouse, 'Winning the local vote: the effectiveness of constituency campaign spending in Great Britain', American Political Science Review, 89 (1995), 969-83; D. Denver and G. Hands, Modern Constituency Electioneering (London, Frank Cass, 1997); D. Denver and K. Halfacree, 'Inter-constituency migration and party support in Britain', Political Studies, 40 (1992), 571-80; D. McMahon, A. Heath, M. Harrop and J. Curtice, 'The electoral consequences of north-south migration', British Journal of Political Science, 22 (1992), 419-43.
7. C. J. Pattie, D. Dorling and R. J. Johnston, 'The electoral politics of recession: local economic conditions, public perceptions and the economic vote in the 1992 British General Election', Transactions, Institute of British Geographers, NS 22 (1997), 147-61; C. J. Pattie, R. J. Johnston and E. A. Fieldhouse, 'Winning the local vote: the effectiveness of constituency campaign spending in Great Britain', American Political Science Review, 89 (1995), 969-83; D. Denver and G. Hands, Modern Constituency Electioneering (London, Frank Cass, 1997); D. Denver and K. Halfacree, 'Inter-constituency migration and party support in Britain', Political Studies, 40 (1992), 571-80; D. McMahon, A. Heath, M. Harrop and J. Curtice, 'The electoral consequences of north-south migration', British Journal of Political Science, 22 (1992), 419-43.
8. C. J. Pattie, D. Dorling and R. J. Johnston, 'The electoral politics of recession: local economic conditions, public perceptions and the economic vote in the 1992 British General Election', Transactions, Institute of British Geographers, NS 22 (1997), 147-61; C. J. Pattie, R. J. Johnston and E. A. Fieldhouse, 'Winning the local vote: the effectiveness of constituency campaign spending in Great Britain', American Political Science Review, 89 (1995), 969-83; D. Denver and G. Hands, Modern Constituency Electioneering (London, Frank Cass, 1997); D. Denver and K. Halfacree, 'Inter-constituency migration and party support in Britain', Political Studies, 40 (1992), 571-80; D. McMahon, A. Heath, M. Harrop and J. Curtice, 'The electoral consequences of north-south migration', British Journal of Political Science, 22 (1992), 419-43.
9. For exceptions, see: A. S. Zuckerman, N. A. Valentino and E. W. Zuckerman, 'A structural theory of vote choice: social and political networks and electoral flows in Britain and the United States', The Journal of Politics, 56 (1994), 1008-33; and R. Huckfeldt and J. Sprague, Citizens, Politics and Social Communication: Information and Influence in an Election Campaign (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1995). For a more general discussion of political networks, see D. Knoke, Political Networks: the Structural Perspective (London, Sage, 1990).
10. For exceptions, see: A. S. Zuckerman, N. A. Valentino and E. W. Zuckerman, 'A structural theory of vote choice: social and political networks and electoral flows in Britain and the United States', The Journal of Politics, 56 (1994), 1008-33; and R. Huckfeldt and J. Sprague, Citizens, Politics and Social Communication: Information and Influence in an Election Campaign (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1995). For a more general discussion of political networks, see D. Knoke, Political Networks: the Structural Perspective (London, Sage, 1990).
11. For exceptions, see: A. S. Zuckerman, N. A. Valentino and E. W. Zuckerman, 'A structural theory of vote choice: social and political networks and electoral flows in Britain and the United States', The Journal of Politics, 56 (1994), 1008-33; and R. Huckfeldt and J. Sprague, Citizens, Politics and Social Communication: Information and Influence in an Election Campaign (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1995). For a more general discussion of political networks, see D. Knoke, Political Networks: the Structural Perspective (London, Sage, 1990).
12. W. L. Miller, Electoral Dynamics in Britain since 1918 (London, MacMillan), p. 65. There was some interest in conversations among voters in the late 1960s and early 1970s: see, for instance, K. R. Cox, 'The voting decision in a spatial context', Progress in Geography, 1 (1969), 81-117; M. Fitton, 'Neighbourhood and voting: a sociometric examination', British Journal of Political Science, 3 (1973), 445-72; P. J. Taylor and R. J. Johnston, Geography of Elections (London, Croom Helm, 1979).
13. W. L. Miller, Electoral Dynamics in Britain since 1918 (London, MacMillan), p. 65. There was some interest in conversations among voters in the late 1960s and early 1970s: see, for instance, K. R. Cox, 'The voting decision in a spatial context', Progress in Geography, 1 (1969), 81-117; M. Fitton, 'Neighbourhood and voting: a sociometric examination', British Journal of Political Science, 3 (1973), 445-72; P. J. Taylor and R. J. Johnston, Geography of Elections (London, Croom Helm, 1979).
14. W. L. Miller, Electoral Dynamics in Britain since 1918 (London, MacMillan), p. 65. There was some interest in conversations among voters in the late 1960s and early 1970s: see, for instance, K. R. Cox, 'The voting decision in a spatial context', Progress in Geography, 1 (1969), 81-117; M. Fitton, 'Neighbourhood and voting: a sociometric examination', British Journal of Political Science, 3 (1973), 445-72; P. J. Taylor and R. J. Johnston, Geography of Elections (London, Croom Helm, 1979).
15. W. L. Miller, Electoral Dynamics in Britain since 1918 (London, MacMillan), p. 65. There was some interest in conversations among voters in the late 1960s and early 1970s: see, for instance, K. R. Cox, 'The voting decision in a spatial context', Progress in Geography, 1 (1969), 81-117; M. Fitton, 'Neighbourhood and voting: a sociometric examination', British Journal of Political Science, 3 (1973), 445-72; P. J. Taylor and R. J. Johnston, Geography of Elections (London, Croom Helm, 1979).
16. E.g. Miller, Electoral Dynamics; M. Harrop, A. Heath and S. Openshaw, 'Does neighbourhood influence voting behaviour - and why?', in I. Crewe, P. Norris, D. Denver and D. Broughton (eds), British Elections and Parties 1991 (London, Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1992); J. Curtice, 'One nation?', in R. Jowell, S. Witherspoon and L. Brook (eds), British Social Attitudes: the 5th Report (Aldershot, Gower, 1988).
17. E.g. Miller, Electoral Dynamics; M. Harrop, A. Heath and S. Openshaw, 'Does neighbourhood influence voting behaviour - and why?', in I. Crewe, P. Norris, D. Denver and D. Broughton (eds), British Elections and Parties 1991 (London, Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1992); J. Curtice, 'One nation?', in R. Jowell, S. Witherspoon and L. Brook (eds), British Social Attitudes: the 5th Report (Aldershot, Gower, 1988).
18. E.g. Miller, Electoral Dynamics; M. Harrop, A. Heath and S. Openshaw, 'Does neighbourhood influence voting behaviour - and why?', in I. Crewe, P. Norris, D. Denver and D. Broughton (eds), British Elections and Parties 1991 (London, Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1992); J. Curtice, 'One nation?', in R. Jowell, S. Witherspoon and L. Brook (eds), British Social Attitudes: the 5th Report (Aldershot, Gower, 1988).
19. Fitton, 'Neighbourhood and voting'.
20. As P. Dunleavy, (in 'The urban basis of political alignment: social class, domestic property ownership and state intervention in consumption processes', British Journal of Political Science, 9 (1979), 409-43), caustically observed, there was no reason to suspect that voters' preferences 'rubbed off' on their neighbours just by brushing shoulders in the street: with a secret ballot, people were under no real pressure to agree with their neighbours when they actually voted.
21. E.g. R. J. Johnston, C. J. Pattie and J. G. Allsopp, A Nation Dividing? The Electoral Map of Britain 1979-1987 (London, Longman, 1988); M. Eagles, 'Sources of variation in working class formation: ecological, sectoral and socialization influences', European Journal of Political Research, 21 (1992), 225-43; R. J. Johnston, 'The neighbourhood effect won't go away', Geoforum, 14 (1983), 161-8; R. J. Johnston, 'The neighbourhood effect revisited: spatial science or political regionalism?', Society and Space, 4 (1986), 41-55.
22. E.g. R. J. Johnston, C. J. Pattie and J. G. Allsopp, A Nation Dividing? The Electoral Map of Britain 1979-1987 (London, Longman, 1988); M. Eagles, 'Sources of variation in working class formation: ecological, sectoral and socialization influences', European Journal of Political Research, 21 (1992), 225-43; R. J. Johnston, 'The neighbourhood effect won't go away', Geoforum, 14 (1983), 161-8; R. J. Johnston, 'The neighbourhood effect revisited: spatial science or political regionalism?', Society and Space, 4 (1986), 41-55.
23. E.g. R. J. Johnston, C. J. Pattie and J. G. Allsopp, A Nation Dividing? The Electoral Map of Britain 1979-1987 (London, Longman, 1988); M. Eagles, 'Sources of variation in working class formation: ecological, sectoral and socialization influences', European Journal of Political Research, 21 (1992), 225-43; R. J. Johnston, 'The neighbourhood effect won't go away', Geoforum, 14 (1983), 161-8; R. J. Johnston, 'The neighbourhood effect revisited: spatial science or political regionalism?', Society and Space, 4 (1986), 41-55.
24. E.g. R. J. Johnston, C. J. Pattie and J. G. Allsopp, A Nation Dividing? The Electoral Map of Britain 1979-1987 (London, Longman, 1988); M. Eagles, 'Sources of variation in working class formation: ecological, sectoral and socialization influences', European Journal of Political Research, 21 (1992), 225-43; R. J. Johnston, 'The neighbourhood effect won't go away', Geoforum, 14 (1983), 161-8; R. J. Johnston, 'The neighbourhood effect revisited: spatial science or political regionalism?', Society and Space, 4 (1986), 41-55.
25. Huckfeldt and Sprague, Citizens, Politics and Social Communication; R. Huckfeldt, P. A. Beck, R. J. Dalton and J. Levine, 'Political environments, cohesive social groups, and the communication of public opinion', American Journal of Political Science 39 (1995), 1025-54.
26. Huckfeldt and Sprague, Citizens, Politics and Social Communication; R. Huckfeldt, P. A. Beck, R. J. Dalton and J. Levine, 'Political environments, cohesive social groups, and the communication of public opinion', American Journal of Political Science 39 (1995), 1025-54.
27. Unfortunately, the relevant questions were not repeated in the 1997 BES, making a more recent replication impossible.
28. Huckfeldt and Sprague, Citizens, Politics and Social Communication.
29. The analyses reported below are based on bivariate relationships, for ease of presentation. All the analyses have been repeated using multivariate logistic regression to control for a wide range of other potential influences on vote switching (details are available from the authors). The same substantive conclusions are reached by both sets of analyses.
30. The Liberal Democrats were a new party in 1992. They were formed through the merger of the Liberals and the Social Democrat Party, who had fought the 1983 and 1987 elections in alliance with each other (commonly referred to as the Liberal-SDP Alliance, or just the Alliance).
31. Here and throughout the paper, similar analyses, both bivariate and multivariate, were carried out to examine the influence of context on defections from parties. In almost all cases, context proved a significant influence on decisions not to vote for a party. To avoid repetition, we do not present the results here (details available from authors).
32. Cox, 'The voting decision in a spatial context'; Huckfeldt and Sprague, Citizens, Politics and Social Communication.
33. Cox, 'The voting decision in a spatial context'; Huckfeldt and Sprague, Citizens, Politics and Social Communication.
34. We use 1992 estimates here rather than 1987, since it would have been during the run-up to the 1992 election that most discussions reported in the 1992 BES would have been likely to take place.