Nominated by res Publica

Abstract

By means of a re-analysis of the most relevant data source – the International Social Mobility and Politics File – this paper criticizes the newly grown consensus in political sociology that class voting has declined since World War II. An increase in crosscutting cultural voting, rooted in educational differences, rather than a decline in class voting proves responsible for the decline of traditional class-party alignments. Moreover, income differences have not become less, but more consequential for voting behavior during this period. It is concluded that the new consensus has been built on quicksand. Class is not dead – it has been buried alive under the increasing weight of cultural voting, systematically misinterpreted as a decline in class voting, due to the widespread application of the so-called Alford index.

Recommended Citation

van der Waal, Jeroen; Achterberg, Peter; and Houtman, Dick (2007) "Class Is Not Dead – It Has Been Buried Alive: Class Voting and Cultural Voting in Postwar Western Societies (1956-1990)," World Political Science Review: Vol. 3 : Iss. 4, Article 3.
DOI: 10.2202/1935-6226.1030
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/wpsr/vol3/iss4/art3