Can a religious-niche party change – or was Kirchheimer right? Analysing the Finnish Christians’ search to become a catchall electoral party

References

• The interviews for this paper were: Sari Essayah 7.10.2021; Elsi Ranta 7.10.2021; Asmo Maanselkä 8.10.2021; Esa Erävalo 20.12.2021; Bjarne Kallis 12.5.2004; Sari Palm 18.9.2009; Tarja Tallqvist 21.1.2010; Lyly Rajala 20.10.2009
   Google Scholar
• Abedi, A. (2009). Anti-political-establishment parties: A comparative analysis. Routledge.
   Google Scholar
• Abou-Chadi, T. (2014). Niche party success and mainstream party policy shifts – How greens and radical rightest parties differ in their impact. British Journal of Political Science, 46(2), 417–436. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123414000155
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Adams, J., Clark, M., Ezrow, L., & Glasgow, G. (2006). Are niche parties fundamentally different from mainstream parties? The causes and electoral consequences of western European parties’ policy shifts, 1976–1998. American Journal of Political Science, 50(3), 513–529. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5907.2006.00199.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Almgren, E. (1998). Villenpoika. Gummerus.
   Google Scholar
• Arter, D. (1980). The Finnish Christian league: Party or ‘anti-party' ?. Scandinavian Political Studies, 3(2), 143–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9477.1980.tb00241.x
   Google Scholar
• Arter, D. (1999). The Swedish general election of 20th September 1998: A victory for values over policies. Electoral Studies, 18(2), 296–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-3794(98)00059-6
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Arter, D. (2012). Analysing ‘successor parties’: The case of the True Finns. West European Politics, 35(4), 803–825. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2012.682346
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Arzheimer, K., & Carter, E. (2009). Christian religiosity and voting for west European radical right parties. West European Politics, 32(5), 985–1011. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402380903065058
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bale, T., & Szczerbrak, A. (2008). Why is there no Christian democracy in Poland – And why we should care? Party Politics, 14(4), 479–500. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068808090256
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bergman, M. E., & Flatt, H. (2020). Issue diversification: Which niche parties can succeed electorally by broadening their agenda? Political Studies, 68(3), 710–730. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321719865538
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bischof, D. (2017). Towards a renewal of the niche party concept: Parties, market shares and condensed offers. Party Politics, 23(3), 220–235. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068815588259
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bolleyer, N., & Bytzek, E. (2013). Origins of party formation and new party success in advanced democracies. European Journal of Political Research, 52(6), 773–796. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12013
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bolleyer, N., Correa, P., & Katz, G. (2019). Political party mortality in established party systems: A hierarchical competing risks approach. Comparative Political Studies, 52(1), 36–68. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414018758764
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Boucek, F. (2009). Rethinking factionalism. Party Politics, 15(4), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068809334533
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brommesson, D. (2010). Svenska kristdemokrater i förändring. Statsvetenskapliga Tidskrift, 112(2), 165–175.
   Google Scholar
• Cremer, T. (2021). A religious vaccination? How the christian communities react to right-wing populism in Germany, France and the US. Government and Opposition, https://doi.org/10.1017/gov.2021.18
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Doherty, B. (1992). The fundi-realo controversy: An analysis of four European green parties. Environmental Politics, 1(1), 95–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644019208414010
   Google Scholar
• Downs, W. M. (2001). Pariahs in their midst: Belgian and Norwegian parties react to extremist threats. West European Politics, 24(3), 23–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402380108425451
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Erävalo, E. (2018). Yhteisen hyvä. Ajatushautamo Kompassi.
   Google Scholar
• Erlingsson, GÓ, Vernby, K., & Óhrvall, R. (2014). The single-issue party thesis and the Sweden democrats. Acta Politica, 49(2), 196–216. https://doi.org/10.1057/ap.2013.18
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ezrow, L. (2008). On the inverse relationship between voters and proximity for niche parties. European Journal of Political Research, 47(2), 206–220. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6765.2007.00724.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gunther, R., & Diamond, L. (2003). Species of political parties. Party Politics, 9(2), 167–199. https://doi.org/10.1177/13540688030092003
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hagevi, M. (2017). Xenophobic opinion, a populist radical right party, and individuals with different religious contexts in Sweden. Journal of Church and State, 60(3), 449–471. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcs/csx056
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Harmel, R., & Robertson, J. D. (1985). Formation and success of new parties: A cross-national analysis. International Political Science Review, 6(4), 501–523. https://doi.org/10.1177/019251218500600408
   Google Scholar
• Harmel, R., Svasand, L. G., & Mjelde, H. (2018). Institutionalisation (and De-Institutionalisation) of right-wing protest Parties. Rowman and Littlefield.
   Google Scholar
• Haynes, J. (2021). Right-wing nationalism, populism and religion: What are the connections and why? Religion, State and Society, 49(3), 188–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637494.2021.1949217
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hug, S. (2000). Studying the electoral success of new political parties: A methodological note. Party Politics, 6(2), 187–197. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068800006002004
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Isohookana-Asunmaa, T. (2006). Virolaisen aika – Maalaisliitosta keskustapuolue 1963–1981. WSOY.
   Google Scholar
• Junkkala, E. (2016). Viides herätysliike. Näin minä Se näen. Kirjatyhtymä.
   Google Scholar
• Kallis, B. (1991). SKL:nkin nimi voitaisin muuttua kristillisdemokraatiseksi puelueeksi. Kristityn Vastuu 11.7.1991.
   Google Scholar
• Kalyvas, S. N., & Van Kersbergen, K. (2010). Christian democracy. Annual Review of Political Science, 13(1), 183–209. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.11.021406.172506
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Karvonen, L. (1993). In from the cold? Christian parties in scandinavia. Scandinavian Political Studies, 16(1), 25–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9477.1993.tb00028.x
   Google Scholar
• KD:n periaateohjelma. (2017). Hyväksytty XXX11 puoluekokouksessa. Seinäjoella. www.kd.fi.politiikka/ohjelmat.
   Google Scholar
• Kernecker, T., & Wagner, M. (2019). Niche parties in Latin America. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, 29(1), 102–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/17457289.2018.1464014
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Keskinen, J. (2021). Päivi Räsäsestä syytetään KD:n huonosta kuntavaalituloksesta – ryhmäjohtajan palli uhattuna? Iltalehti. 21.8.2021
   Google Scholar
• Kirchheimer, O. (1990). The catch-all party. In P. Mair (Ed.), The west European party system (pp. 52–60). Oxford University Press.
   Google Scholar
• Köllner, P., & Basedau, M. (2005). Factionalism in political parties: An analytical framework for comparative analysis. SSRN Electronic Journal. www.duei.de/working papers.
   Google Scholar
• Kortelainen, K. (2018). Kansanlähetyksen perustajiin kuulunut Olavi Ronkainen on kuollut. Seurakuntalainen.10.9.2018
   Google Scholar
• Krouwel, A. (2003). Otto kirchheimer and the catch-all party. West European Politics, 26(2), 23–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402380512331341091
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kyllönen, M. (2010). Vanhoillislestadiolaisia, vanhasuomalaisia ja maalaisliittolaisia. Kuusamon valtapolitiikaa sortovuosista maan itsenäistymiseen 1900–1917. Itä-Karjalan kustannus.
   Google Scholar
• Laakkonen, P. (1997). Kannatus kasvuun pitkäjänteisella työlla. Kristityn Vastuu.19.6.1997
   Google Scholar
• Laukkanen, V. (1991). Kristillinen liitto hakee linjaansa. Kristityn Vastuu.1.8.1991
   Google Scholar
• Lipset, S. M., & Rokkan, S. (Eds.). (1967). Party systems and voter alignments. Free Press.
   Google Scholar
• Lucardie, P. (2000). Prophets, purifiers and prolocutors. Towards a theory on the emergence of new parties. Party Politics, 6(2), 175–185. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068800006002003
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Maanselkä, A. (2021). Asmo Maanselän kolumni:kissa pöydälle. KD-lehti. 20.8.2021.
   Google Scholar
• Madeley, J. T. S. (2004). Life at the northern margin: Christian democracy in Scandinavia. In V. Hecke S, & E. Gerard (Eds.), Christian democratic parties in Europe since the end of the cold war (pp. 217–241). Leuven University Press.
   Google Scholar
• Mair, P. (1997). Party system change. Clarendon Press.
   Google Scholar
• Marcinkiewicz, K., & Dassonneville, R. (2021). Do religious voters support radical rightist parties? Opposite effects in Western and East-Central Europe. Party Politics, https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068820985187
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• McDonnell, D. (2013). Silvio Berlusconi’s personal parties: From Forza Italia to Popolo Della Liberta. Political Studies, 61(Suppl. 1), 217–237. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9248.2012.01007.x
   Google Scholar
• Meguid, B. M. (2005). Competition between unequals: The role of mainstream party strategy in niche party success. American Political Science Review, 99(3), 347–359. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055405051701
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Meyer, T. M., & Miller, B. (2015). The niche party concept and its measurement. Party Politics, 21(2), 259–271. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068812472582
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Moffitt, B. (2021). How do mainstream parties’ become’ mainstream and pariah parties ‘become’ pariahs? Conceptualizing the processes of mainstreaming and pariahing in the labelling of political parties. Government and Opposition, https://doi.org/10.1017/gov.2021.5
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Montgomery, K. A., & Winter, R. (2015). Explaining the religious gap in support for radical right parties in Europe. Politics and Religion, 8(2), 379–403. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755048315000292
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mudde, C. (1996). The paradox of the anti-party party. Party Politics, 2(2), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068896002002006
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mylly, J. (1989). Maalaisliitto-keskustapuolueen historia 2. Lirjayhtymä.
   Google Scholar
• Nykänen, T., & Linjakumpu, A. (2020). Laestadians in the public sphere: Reading the biggest Christian revival movements in Finland. In T. Sakaranaho, T. Aarrevaara, & J. Konttari (Eds.), The challenges of religious literacy. The case of Finland (pp. 1–20). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47576-5
   Google Scholar
• Paloheimo, H., & Sundberg, J. (2009). Vaaliliitot eduskuntavaaleissa 1945–2007. In S. Borg, & H. Paloheimo (Eds.), Vaalit yleisödemokratiassa (pp. 2006–2242). Tampere University Press.
   Google Scholar
• Pedersen, M. N. (1982). Towards a new typology of party lifespans and minor parties. Scandinavian Political Studies, 5(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9477.1982.tb00256.x
   Google Scholar
• Poguntke, T. (1996). Anti-party sentiment – Conceptual thoughts and empirical evidence: Exploration into a minefield. European Journal of Political Research, 39(3), 319–344. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6765.1996.tb00655.x
   Google Scholar
• Richard, H., & Demker, M. (2005). Religion och politik i Norge och Sverige: Kd och KrF. In M. Demker, & L. Svåsand (Eds.), Partiernas århundrade (pp. 191–217). Santérus.
   Google Scholar
• Rose, R. (1964). Parties, factions and tendencies in Britain’. Political Studies, 12(1), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9248.1964.tb00609.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rüdig, W. (1990). Explaining green party development. Reflections on a theoretical framework. Strathclyde paper on Government and Politics.
   Google Scholar
• Salomäki, H. (2017). Herätysliikkeet suomalaisessa yhteiskunnassa. In R. Ilman, K. Ketola, R. Latvio, & M. Sohlberg (Eds.), Monien uskontojen ja katsomusten suomi (pp. 65–75). Kirkon tutkimuksen verkkojulkaisuja 45.
   Google Scholar
• Schedler, A. (1996). Anti-political establishment parties. Party Politics, 2(3), 291–312. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068896002003001
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Schwörer, J., & Romero-Vidal, B. (2020). Radical right populism and religion: Mapping parties’ religious communication in Western Europe. Religion, State and Society, 48(1), 4–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637494.2019.1704611
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Siegers, P., & Jedinger, A. (2021). Religious immunity to populism: Christian religiosity and public support for the alternative for Germany. German Politics, 30(2), 149–169. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644008.2020.1723002
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sikk, A. (2005). How unstable? Volatility and the genuinely new parties in Eastern Europe. European Journal of Political Research, 44(3), 391–412. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6765.2005.00232.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Simula, M. (2011). “Uskossa ehdottamat” – näin Kristillisdemokraatit vastasivat SK:n kyselyssä. Suomen Kuvalehti. 19.8.2011.
   Google Scholar
• Snellman, G. (2014). Den laestadianska Rauha Sana – Rikningens mäteplatser I norra Österbotten fram till år 2011. In A. B. Amundsen (Ed.), Vekkelsens møtesteder (pp. 249–260). Lunds universitets kyrkohistoriska arkiv.
   Google Scholar
• Snellman, G. (2020). Approaching Laestadianism as an insider researcher. Approaching Religion, 10(1), 40–54. https://doi.org/10.30664/ar.85998
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Spoon, J.-J. (2009). Holding their own. Explaining the persistence of green parties in France and the UK. Party Politics, 15(5), 615–634. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068809336397
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Steward, T. R. (2008). Rauhassa kaikkien mutta erityisesti Israelin kanssa. In E. Erävalo (Ed.), Vakaumuksena välittäminen (pp. 60–61). kristillisdemokraatit.
   Google Scholar
• Suomen Kristillisen Liiton Nuoret RY. (1997). SKL.N:n Liittohallituksen kirjr puoluejohdolle ja eduskuntaryhmän kesäkokoukselle.
   Google Scholar
• Suomen kristillisen liiton yleisohjelma. (1969). Hyväksytty. www.fsd.tuni.fi/pohtiva/ohjelmalistat/SKL/1717.
   Google Scholar
• Talonen, J. (2019). Lestadiolaisuus, politiikka ja eduskuntavaalit 2015. In A. Linjakumpu, T. Nykänen, T. Harjumaa, & M. Allenius-Korkalo (Eds.), Politiikka, talous ja työ. Lestadiolaisuus maailmassa (pp. 23–58). Lapland University Press.
   Google Scholar
• Van Kersbergen, K. (2008). The Christian democratic phoenix and modern unsecular politics. Party Politics, 14(3), 259–279. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068807088446
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Van Spanje, J., & Brug, W. (2007). The party as pariah: The exclusion of anti-immigrant parties and its effects on their Ideological positions. West European Politics, 30(5), 1022–1040. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402380701617.431
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wagner, M. (2012). Defining and measuring niche parties. Party Politics, 18(6), 845–864. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068810393267
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wagner, M., & Meyer, T. M. (2017). The radical right as niche parties? The ideological landscape of party systems in Western Europe, 1980–2014. Political Studies, 65(Suppl. 1), 84–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321716639065
   Google Scholar