Brand transformation in european politics: the rise and limits of nonclassical names

Political parties in Europe are undergoing profound transformations, with many abandoning traditional brands. This study analyzes party names as indicators of ideological and organizational change, combining an original content analysis across 28 European countries (1945-2023) with two conjoint surv...

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Hauptverfasser: Borbáth, Endre (VerfasserIn) , Hutter, Swen (VerfasserIn)
Dokumenttyp: Article (Journal)
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 19 December 2025
In: Perspectives on politics
Year: 2025, Pages: 1-19
ISSN:1541-0986
DOI:10.1017/S1537592725103319
Online-Zugang:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592725103319
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/brand-transformation-in-european-politics-the-rise-and-limits-of-nonclassical-names/0934EBB4F00A10D5E7D0EE8F8CE05BAF
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Verfasserangaben:Endre Borbáth and Swen Hutter
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Political parties in Europe are undergoing profound transformations, with many abandoning traditional brands. This study analyzes party names as indicators of ideological and organizational change, combining an original content analysis across 28 European countries (1945-2023) with two conjoint survey experiments. We find that “nonparty” names have become the majority, reflecting a shift away from ideology toward alternative forms of identification. While movement names appear in wavelike patterns linked to protest cycles, such as after the 2008 Great Recession, nonclassical names are especially prevalent among new, opposition, and right-wing parties. However, a paradox emerges: despite their growing adoption, nonclassical names do not easily yield the anticipated electoral benefits, as new parties seem to gain little from abandoning classical naming conventions. By tracing long-term naming trends and integrating survey-based experimental evidence, we advance debates on party transformation, political branding, and the evolving interplay between electoral and movement politics in contemporary democracies.
Beschreibung:Online veröffentlicht: 19. Dezember 2025
Gesehen am 06.02.2026
Beschreibung:Online Resource
ISSN:1541-0986
DOI:10.1017/S1537592725103319