Danish Public Opinion: Stability, Change, and Polarization
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Citizens’ political opinions provide an essential input to the democratic process that governments must respond to or at least engage with. This chapter provides an overview of public opinion toward four major political issues in Denmark: economic distribution, immigration, the environment, and the European Union. First, aggregate public opinion on the four issues over four decades is illuminated. There is remarkable stability in aggregate public opinion over time. Second, we explore the extent to which this stability in aggregate opinion conceals changing degrees of social polarization in opinions across four socio-demographic
groups (gender, age, education, and occupation). Third, we analyse the development of political polarization in Danish public opinion by comparing opinions across voters of political parties over time. Despite aggregate stability, there are remarkable changes in polarization across partisan groups, particularly on attitudes toward immigration, and to a lesser extent, the European Union. Lastly, public opinion in Denmark is compared to other European countries (Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, and Spain).
groups (gender, age, education, and occupation). Third, we analyse the development of political polarization in Danish public opinion by comparing opinions across voters of political parties over time. Despite aggregate stability, there are remarkable changes in polarization across partisan groups, particularly on attitudes toward immigration, and to a lesser extent, the European Union. Lastly, public opinion in Denmark is compared to other European countries (Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, and Spain).
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Oxford Handbook of Danish Politics |
Editors | Peter Munk Christiansen, Jørgen Elklit, Peter Nedergaard |
Number of pages | 19 |
Place of Publication | Oxford |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Publication date | 2020 |
Pages | 259-277 |
Chapter | 17 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780198833598 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780192570192 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |
Series | Oxford Handbooks |
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- Faculty of Social Sciences - public opinion, economic redistribution, immigration, European Union, environmental attitudes
Research areas
ID: 222695777