Abstract
This chapter outlines the purposes of our research, introduces its theoretical framework and discusses the methodology for gathering and analysing data. Having conceptualised and operationalised the category of electoral defeat, we discuss the relationship between electoral setbacks and party change, pointing to mutual connotations and correlations. We then move on to explain approaches to studying electoral defeats and changes within political parties and place the perspective adopted for the purpose of this book in the research context. Next, we propose a comprehensive model for analysing the impact of electoral defeat on intentional and unintentional changes within political parties. The chapter concludes with a section explaining the selection of the cases analysed, both the larger sample (73 parties from 28 European countries) and the small sample that is the subject of in-depth analyses regarding post-defeat narratives. We describe how the mixed method scheme was used to answer questions about the factors that determine the character, depth, scope and outcomes of changes introduced by European political parties in the aftermath of electoral losses.
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Pacześniak, A., Bachryj-Krzywaźnia, M., Kaczorowska, M. (2022). Theoretical and Methodological Framework. In: Electoral Defeat and Party Change . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04032-0_2
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