Loud, Noisy, or Quiet Politics? : The Role of Public Opinion, Parties, and Interest Groups in Social Investment Reforms in Western Europe

Abstract

This chapter develops a theoretical model for the conditions under which parties, public opinion, or interest groups, respectively, affect public policymaking. It argues that the influence of public opinion, parties, and interest groups depends on the salience of the respective topic and on the degree of agreement in public opinion. Public opinion has the greatest influence in a world of “loud” politics when salience is high and the public’s attitudes are coherent. In contrast, when an issue is salient but attitudes are conflicting, public opinion sends a “loud but noisy” signal and party politics have a stronger influence on policymaking. Finally, when an issue is not salient (i.e., “quiet” politics), interest groups are dominant. Empirically, the chapter studies the politics of social investment reform in Western Europe. Based on an original survey of public opinion in eight Western European countries as well as on process tracing analysis of policy reforms, the chapter demonstrates how the influence of public opinion, parties, and interest groups on social investment reforms depends on the salience of the respective topic and on the coherence of public opinion.