DECLINE OF MAINSTREAM PARTIES PARTY RESPONSES AFTER ELECTORAL LOSS IN FLANDERS

During the last few decades, mainstream parties have faced a strong electoral decline. Mainstream parties responded on this change in electoral outcome with party change. In this paper, two categories of responses were studied in a dichotomic framework of mainstream- and niche party competition. First, organizational changes were examined as changes in the organizations’ decision-making structure. This was measured through a document analysis of the mainstream parties’ statutory rules. Second, programmatic changes were examined as a change in policy position and salience of the niche parties’ main issue in the mainstream parties’ manifestos. Data of the Comparative Manifesto Project were used. I examined the responses of the three Flemish mainstream parties (SP,CVP and PVV/VLD) during the 1990s. All three mainstream parties responded on the change in electoral outcome with both programmatic and organizational change. However, programmatic change was implemented more than organizational change. Furthermore, there was variation in the direction of change between the three mainstream parties. This research has important implications for the analysis of multiparty competition and the party change literature responses given by mainstream parties: programmatic and organizational change. Both responses are examined in comparison with the organizational and programmatic positions of the niche parties during that mainstream parties responded on their strong electoral losses with organizational and reforms. These two categories of party change are examined during the Belgian general elections of the 1990s. All three Flemish mainstream parties (SP, CVP and PVV/VLD) implemented both programmatic as organizational reforms. However, programmatic responses were implemented more as organizational ones. Furthermore, there is variation in the responses of mainstream parties. SP converged more to the policy position of AGALEV, while PVV/VLD converged more to the policy position of Vlaams Blok. PVV/VLD implemented most organizational changes, while SP implemented the least. All three mainstream parties converged towards a more activist-based party model. These findings on the party change of mainstream parties implications for analysis of multiparty competition and the party change literature. earlier research on mainstream party organizational change after strategic stances will need be examined as a third category of mainstream party My results also showed that electoral loss not mainstream organizational and programmatic may into other regarding mainstream party responses, such as the impact of coalition willingness, leadership differing party as further studies would able to examine the impact of niche parties’ on mainstream party’s in more detail. Other these responses other mainstream- and niche parties and issues they democracy in Belgium: on paper, in practice and through the eyes of the members. ECPR joint sessions of workshops, Papers . Presented at the 37th ECPR joint sessions of workshops. Workshop 21 : Promoting internal party democracy : a selling point, a serious danger, or a redundant exercise? , European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR).