Haas, Violeta, Bogatyrev, Konstantin, Abou-Chadi, Tarik, Klüver, Heike and Stoetzer, Lukas F. (2025) The Electoral Effects of State-Sponsored Homophobia. TSE Working Paper, n. 25-1628, Toulouse

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Abstract

Do strategies of state-sponsored homophobia translate into electoral gains?While a growing body of literature documents the increasing politicization of LGBTQ- and gender-related issues by illiberal elites, little is known about the electoral effects of these strategies. We address this important question by studying whether anti-LGBTQ mobilization pays off electorally for the initiating party. Empirically, we study the adoption of anti-LGBTQ resolu-tions in many Polish municipalities prior to the 2019 parliamentary election. Using a synthetic difference-in-differences design, we find that these resolu-tions significantly depressed turnout in affected municipalities, with oppo-sition parties showing less mobilization capacity. By contrast, turnout for the incumbent Law and Justice Party increased substantially. Overall, this study’s findings are relevant for understanding the electoral consequences of both elite-led mobilization against stigmatized and discriminated groups, and policies of subnational democratic backsliding.

Item Type: Monograph (Working Paper)
Language: English
Date: March 2025
Place of Publication: Toulouse
Uncontrolled Keywords: LGBTQ rights, sexuality and politics, political homophobia, political competition, political participation
Subjects: B- ECONOMIE ET FINANCE
Divisions: TSE-R (Toulouse)
Institution: Université Toulouse 1 Capitole
Site: UT1
Date Deposited: 17 Mar 2025 10:12
Last Modified: 24 Mar 2025 09:34
OAI Identifier: oai:tse-fr.eu:130436
URI: https://publications.ut-capitole.fr/id/eprint/50661
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