Conferences

The major body of the literature on the relationship between the value or issue-based component and the left-right self-orientation assumes that individuals’ values and attitudes towards different issues will determine their position in the left-right dimension. Regarding values, it is assumed that these are stable over (a long period of) time and hence, affect the left-right self-orientation. Yet regarding the impact of issues this seems to be less clear, in particular as it was found that issues differ over time and cross-nationally.

Given the dynamic of changing issues, it seems reasonable to expect them to have an effect on individuals’ left-right orientation but given the consistency of ideology, one can expect the opposite effect as well. Moreover, not all issues are equally important to different individuals and hence, the relationship between issues and left-right ideology might vary. This will be tested by using multigroup structural equation modelling with data from the first wave of the European Social Survey (2002/03) from the Netherlands.