The emotional construction of partisan identification: the case of the 2016 general election in Spain

Abstract

In the present work, starting from classical studies regarding the partisan identification and its most recent evolution, we do an analysis, through structural equations modelling, of the elements that would allow to explain the construction of this concept. For this we have used the Political Study General Elections in Spain 2016. Emotions and Electoral Behavior, performed by the EIP-USC after the celebration of the General Elections of 2016 in Spain. The results allow you to outline some issues of great interest, including the importance of three components as central elements in the construction of partisan identification: a positive emotional component towards political parties and their leaders, a vehicle structural component through the effect of cleavages and a component of political competition, represented by the role of political leadership.