Explaining differences in party reactions to the Fridays for Future-movement–a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of parties in three European countries

Berker L.E.; Pollex J.

Abstract

Recently, political contestation on climate change has increased considerably. Not least, world-wide protests by the Fridays for Future movement have brought the issue to the fore of the policy-agenda. However, following classic ideas of partisan theory, the movement depends on political parties to translate their demands into political action. Based on multiple data sources (i.e. social media and parliamentary debates), we, therefore, investigate reactions of 19 parties to the movement in three European countries (Austria, Germany and Sweden) and analyse reasons for their varying responses in a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). Overall, parties stay true to their general ideological position and party competition only exerts a mild impact on party reactions to the movement while their traditional left-right positioning or environmental preferences explain their responses. Thus, despite Fridays for Future’s moderate demands and its measured appearance it was not able to generate general support from centre-right parties.