Family Dynamics and Swiss Parties on the Rise: Exploring Party Support in a Changing Electoral Context

Do family members steer each other toward new and rising political parties? This article shows that the family-traditionally viewed as a bulwark for electoral stability over time-is an important locus for dynamic interpersonal persuasion. Swiss household panel data are used to unpack influence among mothers, fathers, and children with respect to support for radical right and green parties. Parents urge their offspring to support these rising parties, spouses influence each other, and-importantly-young people convince their parents. Comparing intrafamily influence for rising parties with parallel dynamics for their main electoral rivals reveals patterns that distinguish rising from stagnant parties. Most notably, direct influence between young people and their fathers exists for rising parties but not for stable or declining ones. Finally, interpersonal persuasion can be enhanced when family members' interest in politics is high, when family members live together, and during election years.