Introduction
The article by D. Anderson “The ‘Tipping Point’ of a Strategic Vote: When Does an Individual Vote Strategically?” aims to measure the variables that determine why people vote strategically. Hence, the exact research question is, “Why do people vote strategically?” (Anderson 2022, 647). The direct quote of the thesis statement and anticipated outcomes is, “By calculating these tipping points, researchers can better gauge voter behaviour and how, or when, certain factors contribute to strategic voting” (Anderson 2022, 646). This argument makes it clear what the author intends to do.
The critical problem of the study is the need for an accurate explanation of the causes of the tipping point in voting based on Canadian and British experiences. The author analyzes the data of scientific works devoted to the study of the nature of strategic voting. The theoretical basis of this study shows that there are three categories of these variables that help explain why people vote strategically. They include the perceived potential to attract voters, party or leadership preferences, and possible differences in preferences between political parties.
Theoretical Considerations
The major theoretical considerations regarding the topic concern the background of voting behavior and the concept of the “tipping point.” The latter implies that voters typically have two choices – a sincere and a strategic choice (Anderson 2022). In other words, most people would like to vote for their favorite party (sincere choice), but if that option is not viable, they will switch to another party that has a chance of winning the election. This choice is strategic and does not fully reflect voters’ intentions, but it allows people to influence the final decision. It is the most significant concept that the author defines and uses to confirm his thesis.
Methodology
The article uses general scientific methods, including dialectics, analysis, and synthesis. As a part of the evidence base of the research, primary election data in Great Britain and Canada are obtained from large-scale Internet surveys of the same respondents before and after Election Day (Anderson 2022, 649). The continuity provided by this voting structure helps to assess people’s perceptions and perceptions of the likelihood of electing political parties, party leaders, and voters at election time compared to the post-election results that determine people’s actual choices. As a result, the author uses this empirical data to confirm his hypothesis and thesis statement.
Results
The results of the article support the existing theoretical knowledge and the author’s main argument. Namely, the author confirmed the impact of examined variables on voting behavior, showing that people are likely to vote strategically in case their favorite party is unlikely to win. Moreover, the author succeeded in measuring the exact tipping point (73 for Canadian voters on a 1-100 scale), when voters are ready to switch from their preferred options.
Conclusion
In summary, the author established a tipping point measure for voters in Canada, at which they switch from a sincere choice to a strategic one. Consequently, this article is of high applied significance because it provides a developed system of criteria that allows experts to trace turning points in electoral processes in a short period of time. The content may be useful to analysts and political observers. The basis laid down in this article has great promise for further research in global politics.
Reference
Anderson, Dylan S. J. 2022. “The ‘Tipping Point’ of a Strategic Vote: When Does an Individual Vote Strategically?” Canadian Journal of Political Science 55(3), 645–62.