My research focuses on the relationship between political parties and public opinion, and the implications of this for the electoral process. This relates to a number of questions of central importance to democratic theory, including where public opinion comes from. Why does it change over time? Do elections compel parties to adopt policies consistent with public opinion? How do parties adapt to changes in public opinion over time? How do long term relationships develop between political parties and particular groups of voters? My research on these questions can be grouped into three general themes: (1) the study of party strategy and its implications for democracy; (2) the historical development of party systems; and (3) the nature and origins of public opinion.

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I. PARTY STRATEGY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR DEMOCRACY

Peer-reviewed publications

1. 'Bridging Spatial and Saliency Theory: Party Size and Issue Selection in Campaigns.' Forthcoming at Political Science Research & Methods: [Supplementary Materials] [Replication Files]

Working papers

2. 'The Clarity Incentive for Issue Engagement in Campaigns.' (with Matthew Knowles) [Supplementary Materials] [NICEP Working Paper Series version] .(slides) 

3. 'Voting Without Influence? Preference Endogeneity and Electoral Representation.' 


II. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PARTY SYSTEMS

Working papers

1. 'Democratizing from Within: British Elites and the Expansion of the Franchise.' (with Carles Boix, Sonia Giurumescu and Paulo Serôdio) (slides) (draft available on request)

Papers in progress

2. 'Revisiting the Origins of the British Labour Party.' (with Carles Boix, Jordi Muñoz and Sonia Giurumescu) ​

3. 'World War One and the Rise of the US Civil Rights Movement.' (with Costanza Biavaschi, Giovanni Facchini and Cecilia Testa)


III. THE NATURE AND ORIGINS OF PUBLIC OPINION

Working papers

1. 'The News Media and Voter Responses to the Financial Crisis in Britain.' (slides) (under review)

Papers in progress

2. 'The (Non) Separability of Policy and Valence in Voter Preferences.' Presented at MPSA 2013.