Niche parties in the Benoit and Laver expert survey
Note: 1) This list is not to be treated as exhaustive as the expert survey restricted itself to the most important parties in each country. Many smaller parties are therefore not included in the dataset. 2)Only countries with more than three parties are included in the analysis as it is not reasonable to calculate mean salience scores with just one or two competitors. While smaller party systems may also have niche parties, it is difficult to assess relative levels of salience if the number of other competitors is so small. This excludes Malta and the United States from the sample for this survey. 3) Party family information is taken from the CMP dataset. 4) For more on the survey and precise question wording, see: Benoit, K. and M. Laver (2006) Party Policy in Modern Democracies, Routledge, London.
Country Austria
- Party
- Party family
Liberal
Niche issues
Immigration
Freedom Party (FPÖ) Greens
Immigration, Social policy, Environment
Green
Social Policy, Immigration Decentralization
Belgium
- National Front (FN)
- n/a
New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) Vlaams Blok (VB) n/a
- Decentralization, Immigration, Social Policy
- Ethno-regionalist
Decentralization Decentralization
Britain Canada
- Plaid Cmyru
- Ethno-regionalist
- Ethno-regionalist
- Scottish National Party
Decentralization, Quebec Environment
Bloc Quebecois Green Party
Ethno-regionalist Green
Social Policy
Denmark Finland
- Christian People's Party (KrF)
- Christian Democratic
- Social Policy
- Christian Democrats (KD)
True Finns (PS)
Christian Democratic
- Agrarian
- Immigration, Social Policy, EU: Authority
- Immigration, Social policy, Environment
- Green League (VL)
- Green
Social Policy, Globalization, EU: Larger/stronger
France
- Mouvement pour la France
- n/a
EU: Larger/Stronger
Rassemblement pour la France Front National n/a
- Immigration, Globalization, EU: Larger/stronger
- Nationalist
Immigration, EU: Authority, Social Policy Social Policy, Environment, Immigration Immigration, EU: Authority, Social Policy Immigration, EU: Authority, Social Policy Immigration
Germany
German People's Union (DVU) Green Party n/a Green
- n/a
- National Democratic Party (NPD)
- Republicans (Rep)
- n/a
- Schill Party
- n/a
- Synaspismos
- Communist
- Decentralization, Environment, EU: Accountability, Immigration
Greece Ireland
- Greens
- Green
- EU: Peacekeeping, Environment, EU: Strengthening
EU: Peacekeeping, Northern Ireland
- Sinn Fein
- Special Issue
Environment
Italy
Green Party (FdV) MSFT
Green
Social Policy, Immigration Social Policy
Nationalist
- n/a
- Pannella-Bonino List
Social Policy
Netherlands Christian Union
Christian Democratic
Social Policy, EU: Accountability Social Policy
- Democrats 66
- Liberal
- n/a
- Reformed Political Party (SGP)
New ZealandNew Zealand First Party
- Immigration
- Conservative
Social Policy
Norway Portugal
Christian People's Party (KrF) Ecology Party (PEV)
Christian Democratic Green
Immigration, Social policy, Environment Decentralization
Spain
- Basque Nationalist Party (PNV)
- Christian Democratic
Decentralization
Sweden
- Centre Party
- Agrarian
- Green
- Green Party (MP)
- Environment, Decentralization, EU: Peacekeeping, EU: Accountability
Environment Immigration
Switzerland Green Party
Swiss Democrats (SD)
Green Nationalist