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Issue evolution in B ritain: The debate on E uropean U nion integration, 1964–2010
Author(s) -
Stevens Daniel
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of political research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.267
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1475-6765
pISSN - 0304-4130
DOI - 10.1111/1475-6765.12004
Subject(s) - elite , pace , politics , political science , dynamics (music) , sociology , law , geography , pedagogy , geodesy
While C armines and S timson's work on issue evolutions has prompted research showing the dynamics and effects of new party alignments on abortion, religion, gender and cultural issues, this research has all centred on the U nited S tates. This article examines issue evolution in B ritain. Using evidence on the timing of changes in elite positions from C omparative M anifestos G roup data, and survey data on public attitudes to the E uropean U nion with a longer historical sweep than heretofore, the article finds strong evidence that the E uropean issue has followed an issue evolution path, though with distinct dynamics contingent on the pace of elite re‐positioning. Thus, this article extends the theory of issue evolution to a parliamentary political system and demonstrates the responsiveness of the public to elite cues, while also providing additional insights from a unique case in which elites have staked out distinct positions not once, but twice.