Magic mayors: Predicting electoral success from candidates' physical attractiveness under the conditions of a presidential electoral system

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autorschaft

  • Ulrich Rosar
  • Markus Klein
  • Tilo Beckers

Organisationseinheiten

Externe Organisationen

  • Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf
Forschungs-netzwerk anzeigen

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)372-391
Seitenumfang20
FachzeitschriftGerman politics
Jahrgang21
Ausgabenummer4
Frühes Online-Datum20 Nov. 2012
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Dez. 2012

Abstract

A range of empirical studies has shown that candidates' physical attractiveness can substantially influence the outcome of political elections. This applies to different countries, different electoral systems, and different levels of political systems, and equally affects simple direct or list candidates and front-runners. However, no previous investigation using actual election results has been made into whether candidates' attractiveness also has an effect under the conditions of a presidential electoral system. Theoretical reasons can be formulated that suggest attractiveness is ineffective under these circumstances. In order to clarify this point empirically, we analysed the 2009 North Rhine-Westphalia mayoral elections. Yet the results of the analyses clearly show that candidates' attractiveness has a substantial influence. Taking into account earlier findings, the influence of physical attractiveness in political elections appears to be resistant, to a large degree, to varying constraints.

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Zitieren

Magic mayors: Predicting electoral success from candidates' physical attractiveness under the conditions of a presidential electoral system. / Rosar, Ulrich; Klein, Markus; Beckers, Tilo.
in: German politics, Jahrgang 21, Nr. 4, 12.2012, S. 372-391.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Rosar U, Klein M, Beckers T. Magic mayors: Predicting electoral success from candidates' physical attractiveness under the conditions of a presidential electoral system. German politics. 2012 Dez;21(4):372-391. Epub 2012 Nov 20. doi: 10.1080/09644008.2012.739609
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