The ideological profile of citizens with technocratic attitudes
P3-02
Presented by: Eri Bertsou
Previous research has shown that a distinct and substantial share of the electorate in established democracies supports technocracy, or government by experts. But why do these voters endorse such an alternative, non-pluralist form of representation? To better understand the political causes of this phenomenon, this study empirically explores the ideological profile(s) of this latent class of citizens. Using novel data from an original public opinion survey across seven European countries, Australia, and the United States, we explore whether this group’s ideological distribution is centrist, skewed, or heterogenous, both on the general left-right dimension and on ten issue-specific items. By identifying the ideological characteristics of this ‘technocratic class’, and the degree to which they are distinct from party-democratic and populist voters, we can unpack their political attitudes and motivations. In a time of unprecedented crises and ongoing challenges to democratic representation, this paper has important implications for our understanding of the appeal of alternative, non-programmatic forms of government.