Digital ecosystems in regionalist parties

In this paper, we consider how different regionalist parties are building their digital ecosystems (Dommett et al, 2020) in three different multi-level countries: the Scottish National Party (SNP, UK), Compromis (Spain), Bloque Nacionalista Galego (BNG, Spain), and Vlaams Belang (VB, Belgium). We provide a description of parties’ digital strategies, considering how they develop digital tools and strategies internally (‘in-house’ in the party organisational centre and within decentralized political party structures) and externally, drawing on the supporting actors identified by Dommett et al. Our empirical data draws on semi-structured interviews and documentary data which goes beyond campaigning periods to consider parties’ ordinary and ongoing digital ecosystems. Building upon this rich comparative material, we then try to understand why specific digital strategies and structures are employed. We consider why digital tools, strategy and capacity might differ across these parties, particularly considering parties’ roles in government/opposition and their ideological positioning. We argue that both of these factors are crucial as they provide material and ideational resources which spur and shape parties’ investment in digital tools and methods. However, we consider that regionalist parties, across these variables may be likely to invest in such tools as a way of providing direct access to voters and members (beyond official state or media means) and due to the relatively small and flexible size of party organisations.