Antipartisanship as a Political Identity? The Composition of Antipartisan Groups in Multiparty Systems and the Impacts of Antipartisanship on Democratic Representation

• Grant number: 25/01573-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: July 15, 2025
• End date: January 14, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - Political Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Rachel Meneguello
• Grantee: Mariana Falcão Chaise
• Supervisor: Juan Abal Medina
• Host Institution: Centro de Estudos de Opinião Pública (CESOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/15098-8 - Antipartisanship as a political identity? The composition of anti-party groups in multi-party systems and the impacts of anti-party sentiment on democratic representation, BP.PD

Abstract

The research project explores antipartisanship in multiparty systems, framing it not merely as opposition to political parties but as a conglomerate of political, social, and ideological identities. It argues that these identities can reshape electoral dynamics when articulated together, yet remain distinct when isolated. The focus is on antipetismo in Brazil and antikirchnerismo in Argentina, phenomena that transcend traditional ideological divides and incorporate cultural, emotional, and moral narratives. The study examines how antipartisanship challenges conventional notions of democratic representation. It posits that while political parties articulate social demands and promote governance, the rise of antipartisan sentiments may undermine these functions. The research employs a multimethod approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses. In Brazil, cluster analysis using Eseb data identified subgroups of antipetistas and their dynamics. In Argentina, TRI-POL data is used to map antikirchnerismo. Qualitative techniques, such as focus groups and in-depth interviews, explore the social narratives underpinning these forms of antipartisanship. The objectives include understanding the complexity of antipartisanship, investigating its implications for representative democracy, and establishing robust comparisons between Brazil and Argentina. The qualitative data collection in Argentina is central to the project, analyzing the characteristics of antikirchnerismo and strengthening local academic networks. The research also aims to contribute to global debates on the crisis of political representation, proposing new paradigms for studying parties and political identities.