Anchoring Democracy: Elite Strategies, Identity Politics, and the Transformation of Political Competition

This paper explores the role of elite strategies in shaping democratic competition through the "anchoring model" of identity-based politics. Using a moderate constructivist approach, it integrates social identity theory, the spatial model of democratic competition, and Riker’s heresthetic theory to examine how identity construction impacts democracy. The research focuses on three questions: how elite-driven identity politics alters competition, affects perceptions of political reality, and reshapes democratic accountability. Elite strategies in identity politics are central to this analysis. By employing heresthetics—strategic manipulation of dimensions of political judgment—elites frame political realities to anchor voters to specific partisan identities. This anchoring stabilizes electoral bases, reducing volatility while constraining competition. However, opposing elites often counter these efforts by “thawing” entrenched identities, ensuring competition persists despite attempts to segment political markets or foster "radical fixity." The anchoring model underscores how elite-driven framing disrupts shared perceptions of political reality, replacing traditional foundationalist democratic norms with a constructivist understanding. This redefinition of political reality diminishes instrumental accountability, as elites shift focus from policy outcomes to symbolic representation. Authenticity in expressing collective identities becomes the new measure of accountability, reflecting a significant normative shift in democratic control. Ultimately, the anchoring model highlights the dual role of elite strategies: while they stabilize partisan support, they also threaten democratic deliberation and consensus. By framing political contestation through identity construction, elites profoundly transform democratic competition, challenging its foundational principles while introducing new dimensions of representation and accountability.