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The Effect of Elite Polarization: A Comparative Perspective on How Party Elites Influence Attitudes and Behavior on Climate Change in the European Union

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  • Jacob Sohlberg

    (Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg, Box 711, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden)

Abstract

There is considerable variability in attitudes towards climate change between citizens of different countries. By using individual-level and country-level data, I examine if this variability in public opinion is partially caused by political party elites. The results show that when elites are united in their support for environmental issues, the perceived threat of climate change is higher than in countries where party elites are divided. The results also demonstrate that the perceived threat influences behavior related to climate change, and that threat mediates the effect of party positions. Consequently, the effect of party elites is stronger than previously acknowledged. The models rely on Generalized Method of Moments estimation and instrumental variables with clustering on EU member-states.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacob Sohlberg, 2016. "The Effect of Elite Polarization: A Comparative Perspective on How Party Elites Influence Attitudes and Behavior on Climate Change in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:39-:d:86372
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gerrit Antonides, 2017. "Sustainable Consumer Behaviour: A Collection of Empirical Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-5, September.
    2. Yue, Sishi & Yang, Mo & Cao, Jiawei & Yang, Jinyu, 2025. "Do management climate change concerns mitigate greenwashing? Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    3. Fernando Mata & Meirielly Santos Jesus & Concha Cano-Díaz & Maria Dos-Santos, 2023. "European Citizens’ Worries and Self-Responsibility towards Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-13, April.
    4. Stephanie J. Zawadzki & Thijs Bouman & Linda Steg & Vladimir Bojarskich & Perri B. Druen, 2020. "Translating climate beliefs into action in a changing political landscape," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 21-42, July.

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