Organisational capacity and electoral gains: why majority parties nominate Roma candidates in local elections

Buta, O. and Gherghina, S. (2023) Organisational capacity and electoral gains: why majority parties nominate Roma candidates in local elections. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 49(9), pp. 2154-2171. (doi: 10.1080/1369183X.2022.2031921)

Abstract

The representation of ethnic minorities is often investigated through the lenses of ethnic parties. Much less attention is paid to how parties belonging to the ethnic majority represent minorities. In particular, we know very little about why such parties nominate ethnic minority candidates on their lists in elections. This article aims to explain this process and focuses on the Roma candidates on ethnic majority party lists in the 2016 local elections in Romania. The study covers 289 party lists from 77 localities with a minimum Roma population of 1% from three different counties. The analysis proposes a supply-side approach that covers party and competition variables. The results indicate that the size of the party, the size of the Roma group and the presence of Roma parties in the electoral competition have an effect on the nomination of Roma candidates.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The work of Sergiu Gherghina was supported by Unitatea Executiva pentru Finantarea Invatamantului Superior, a Cercetarii, Dezvoltarii si Inovarii: [Grant Number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-0460].
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gherghina, Dr Sergiu
• Authors: Buta, O., and Gherghina, S.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
• Journal Name: Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 1369-183X
• ISSN (Online): 1469-9451
• Published Online: 06 February 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 49(9): 2154-2171
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License