In the light of the broader debate on the mediatization of politics, this study wants to better understand how the media perceptions and media behaviour of politicians are related to their appearances in the news. We opt for an innovative actor-centred approach to actually measure the views and actions of individual politicians. We combine surveys conducted with 142 Belgian representatives with data on politicians’ external communication behaviour and on their appearances in television news, newspapers and news websites. The results show that media behaviour is not so much related to beliefs of media importance. We do find a significant positive relationship between strategic media behaviour and media attention suggesting that politicians who put in more effort appear more often in various news media. However, this positive relationship depends on the specific form of strategic communication and the political position of the legislator. Our study adds to the mediatization literature by showing how and when politicians are successful in obtaining media attention. |
Politics of the Low Countries
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Editorial |
Farewell to the first Editor-in-Chief and some thoughts from the new Editors-in-Chief |
Authors | Min Reuchamps and Luana Russo |
Author's information |
Article |
An Actor Approach to MediatizationLinking Politicians’ Media Perceptions, Communication Behaviour and Appearances in the News |
Keywords | mediatization, politicians, news media, media perceptions, news management |
Authors | Pauline Ketelaars and Peter Van Aelst |
AbstractAuthor's information |
Article |
Interest Representation in BelgiumMapping the Size and Diversity of an Interest Group Population in a Multi-layered Neo-corporatist Polity |
Keywords | interest groups, advocacy, access, advisory councils, media attention |
Authors | Evelien Willems, Jan Beyers and Frederik Heylen |
AbstractAuthor's information |
This article assesses the size and diversity of Belgium’s interest group population by triangulating four data sources. Combining various sources allows us to describe which societal interests get mobilised, which interest organisations become politically active and who gains access to the policy process and obtains news media attention. Unique about the project is the systematic data collection, enabling us to compare interest representation at the national, Flemish and Francophone-Walloon government levels. We find that: (1) the national government level remains an important venue for interest groups, despite the continuous transfer of competences to the subnational and European levels, (2) neo-corporatist mobilisation patterns are a persistent feature of interest representation, despite substantial interest group diversity and (3) interest mobilisation substantially varies across government levels and political-administrative arenas. |
Article |
The Impact of VAAs on Vote Switching at the 2019 Belgian Legislative ElectionsMore Switchers, but Making Their Own Choices |
Keywords | voting advice applications, vote switching, vote choice, elections and electoral behaviour, voters/citizens in Belgium, VAA |
Authors | David Talukder, Laura Uyttendaele, Isaïa Jennart e.a. |
AbstractAuthor's information |
During electoral campaigns, the use of voting advice applications (VAAs) has become increasingly widespread. Consequently, scholars have examined both the patterns of usage and their effects on voting behaviour. However, existing studies lead to conflicting findings. In this article, we take a closer look at the effect of De Stemtest/Test électoral (a VAA developed by academics from the University of Louvain and the University of Antwerp, in partnership with Belgian media partners) on vote switching. More specifically, we divide this latter question into two sub-questions: (1) What is the impact of a (dis)confirming advice from the VAA on vote switching? (2) Do VAA users follow the voting advice provided by the VAA? Our study shows that receiving a disconfirming advice from the VAA increases the probability of users to switch their vote choice. |
Research Note |
Caretaker Cabinets in BelgiumA New Measurement and Typology |
Keywords | caretaker government, Belgium, cabinets, political crisis |
Authors | Régis Dandoy and Lorenzo Terrière |
AbstractAuthor's information |
Belgium is probably the world’s best known case of where caretaker governments reside. Yet a clear scholarly definition and measurement of this concept is missing. Based on a detailed analysis of the Belgian federal cabinets, this research note explores the main characteristics and measures the length of the various caretaker periods. We find that Belgium was governed for no less than 1,485 days by a caretaker government between 2007 and 2020, which equals more than four full calendar years. This research note also presents a novel typology of caretaker periods based on the institutional and political practice within the Belgian legislative and executive branches. This typology can be used to assess caretaker periods at other levels of government as well as in other countries in order to improve our understanding of the many ‘faces’ that a caretaker government can take on. |
Politics of the Low Countries will be published by Radboud University Press as diamond open-access publication from January 2025 onwards. In the meantime submissions can be sent to politicslc@boomdenhaag.nl