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Emotions, cognitions and moderation : understanding losers’ consent in the 2016 Brexit referendum
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Nadeau , Richard , Bélanger, Éric and Atikcan, Ece Özlem (2021) Emotions, cognitions and moderation : understanding losers’ consent in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties, 31 (1). pp. 77-96. doi:10.1080/17457289.2019.1604528 ISSN 1745-7289.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/17457289.2019.1604528
Abstract
Why do some voters accept their defeat and agree to a democratic verdict while some do not? This distinction between “graceful” and “sore” losers is essential for the stability of democratic regimes. This paper focuses on the phenomenon of losers’ consent in the 2016 Brexit referendum using original public opinion data. Extant studies suggest that post-electoral reactions are mainly outcome-driven, consider winners and losers as homogeneous groups, and neglect the individual-level profile and motivations of graceful losers. Using an innovative and direct question to measure losers’ consent, this research finds that voters’ reaction to the outcome is also process-driven. Graceful losers are politically involved and principled citizens who are more inclined to judge the merits of democracy in procedural terms. They are also more politically sophisticated, less emotionally engaged in the electoral decision, hold more moderate views on the object of the vote, and are torn between the options until the end of the campaign. These findings have important implications for democratic theory. The stability of democracies depends not only on sophisticated voters capable of prioritizing the benefits of the democratic process over disappointing outcomes but also on voters who are indecisive, hesitant, and above all, moderate.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||||
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| Subjects: | J Political Science > JA Political science (General) J Political Science > JC Political theory J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General) J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies | ||||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties | ||||||||
| Publisher: | Taylor and Francis | ||||||||
| ISSN: | 1745-7289 | ||||||||
| Official Date: | 2021 | ||||||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | 31 | ||||||||
| Number: | 1 | ||||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 77-96 | ||||||||
| DOI: | 10.1080/17457289.2019.1604528 | ||||||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||||
| Copyright Holders: | Richard Nadeau, Eric Belanger, Ece Ozlem Atikcan | ||||||||
| Date of first compliant deposit: | 25 March 2019 | ||||||||
| Date of first compliant Open Access: | 12 October 2020 | ||||||||
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