JOURNAL ARTICLE

Do Protests Change Citizens' Perceptions of Political Parties? Evidence From the 15-M in Spain.

  • Published In: Political Studies, 2025, v. 73, n. 4. P. 1772 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Padilla, Javier 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines how the 15-M anti-austerity protests in Spain causally influenced citizens' perceptions of political parties on the left-right ideological dimension. Using a panel data survey with a wave conducted immediately before and after the protests began, the study finds that leftist participants perceived the center-left incumbent party, PSOE, as shifting toward the political center, increasing the ideological distance between these voters and PSOE. This perceptual shift persisted over time and contributed to a representational crisis that opened political space for new parties like Podemos. The findings suggest that protests can actively reshape political party perceptions, thereby exacerbating crises of representation beyond merely reflecting underlying economic conditions.

Additional Information

  • Source:Political Studies. 2025/11, Vol. 73, Issue 4, p1772
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Political Science
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0032-3217
  • DOI:10.1177/00323217241311416
  • Accession Number:188884267
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