Μεταβολές στο περιεχόμενο των προεκλογικών προγραμμάτων των ελληνικών κομμάτων: η αξία της προσαρμοστικότητας

Abstract

This paper investigates the extent to which the political discourse of Greek parties has changed in the years that followed the Colonels’ downfall in 1974. It then tests whether such shifts have been mirroring the ideological transformations of public opinion. The main research question focuses on whether any of the Greek parties have adapted their political discourse to the dominant ideological view of the day and whether such adaptability has been electorally beneficial. Comparative over-time analysis of the electoral programmes of the three parties that took part in all electoral contests since 1974 (PaSoK, New Democracy, KKE) reveal that they do differ in the extent as well as in the rate of policy change. The electoral manifestos of KKE have remained largely unchanged, while the political discourse of PaSoK has changed gradually, albeit substantially, during the whole post-junta era. In the case of New Democracy, it is argued that the focus of its electoral programmes has been constantly shifting from one bundle of policies to another.