Mainstream Party Strategizing On Corruption Issues – The Case Of Italy

Abstract: Research on niche parties have not thoroughly explored dynamics between niche and mainstream parties. The model for mainstream party strategy provided by Meguid is complemented by research on the influence of far-right parties on their party systems. What strategy a mainstream party chooses towards a niche party is likely to be influenced by the type of niche party. Anti-corruption parties are of particular interest due to their massive electoral successes in Eastern Europé. Italy is identified as the critical case for Western Europe and the hypothesis that anti-corruption parties are not successful in long-existing party systems. The study shows that Italian mainstream parties have politicized corruption to a surprisingly large extent given the widespread pessimism over their capabilities in fighting corruption, but the evidence is inconclusive with regard to how exact strategy choices are affected by the level of niche party threat. The cases not in line with the predictions of Meguid’s model are most likely explained by that dealing with corruption is toxic for a party that is under corruptionallegations.