What are the broader consequences of ostracizing the Radical Right? Recent
studies show that a ective polarization towards Radical Right parties
is particularly pronounced. Further, ample research engages with the implications
of competition in the issue dimension for electoral outcomes. The
study takes a broader view, arguing that while party behaviour in the realm
of issue competition mainly has consequences for electoral behaviour, nonissue
strategies can have additional e ects on the more fundamental level
of social cohesion and parties' perceived democratic legitimacy. Thereby,
it contributes to the literature on party competition by clarifying the effects
of ostracism on broader outcomes relevant for societal divisions and
fundamental evaluations of political actors. It does so through a survey
experiment in Germany presenting respondents with one of three di erent
mainstream party strategies towards the Radical Right AfD: no ostracism,
the status quo ostracism, and de-legitimizing ostracism, in which the AfD
is referenced as a threat to democracy. The survey allows analyzing the
mainstream party strategies' e ects on outcomes pertaining to voting behaviour,
perceived democratic legitimacy, and a ective polarization. This
document presents the paper outline, as well as the pre-registration of the
study addressing the empirical question.
