This takes us to Downs' spatial location model in explaining the existence of small parties. According to Downs, small parties are used to influence existing large parties. The small parties exist as a way for voters to threaten large parties with diverted votes if the large parties have alienated them with unpopular policies. In order to show dissatisfaction with the Socialist Party's policies, Spanish voters are planning on voting for small parties, in the hope of forcing the Socialist Party to change its policies or decreasing the influence of the party.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Exploitation of Votes Using Small Parties
This Washington Post article, linked in the title, discusses the current dissatisfaction of Spanish voters with the ruling Socialist Party. High unemployment and the reduction of welfare programs have left many Spaniards, especially younger generations, to become incredibly disillusioned with the government because future economic prospects look bleak. Although the Conservative Party is using anti-Socialist Party sentiment to their advantage, many young voters see the parties' fiscal policies and too similar, and so stated that they were planning on "voting for smaller parties that stood little chance of winning power."
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I think it is interesting to note that the Spaniards’ discontent with the government is so severe that, according to the article, “many are turning from democracy altogether and taking to the streets to express their frustration.” It seems that Spaniards are not only voting for small parties that don’t have a chance of winning in an attempt to voice their concerns, but some are abstaining from the vote altogether.
This is a classic example of what Downs calls “alienation,” which occurs when political candidates have moved so far from a voter’s optimum choice, that the voter gains almost no utility regardless who wins the election. Applying this idea to Johnson’s cost/benefit analysis of voting behavior, we can say that their choice to abstain is highly rational. After all, if the benefit to you of either candidate winning is negligible, why bother to vote?
Interestingly, even though the Spaniards’ alienation has driven them away from voting, it hasn’t compelled them to stop caring about politics or made them completely apathetic. Rather, it seems that the voters are simply turning to methods other than voting to change political outcomes. Johnson talks about how the benefit derived from voting is partially a function of the probability that your vote will determine the outcome. In the case of the Spaniards, it seems that they no longer believe that their vote will determine the outcome and have instead resorted to protesting in the streets in an attempt to affect the political outcome.
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