Dados is one of the most widely-read social sciences journals in Latin America. Created in 1966, it publishes innovative works, originating from academic research, by Brazilian and foreign authors. Edited by IESP-UERJ, it aims to reconcile scientific rigor and academic excellence with an emphasis on public debate based on the analysis of substantive issues of society and politics.
Dados vol. 55 n. 4 Rio de Janeiro out./dez. 2012
Abstract
This study analyzes the phenomenon of switching party affiliations in Brazil, taking a different approach from that traditionally adopted. Rather than inquiring into the intentions of the migrating legislators, I attempt to understand party-switching as a whole, seeking to grasp how the collective actors (in this case the political parties) use party switches to increase their power in the parliamentary and electoral arenas. By focusing on the moments in which party switches occur, it is possible to perceive the benefits derived by political parties whenever new members join their ranks.
Keywords: Political Parties, partisan migration, political institutions, Parliamentary Arena, Electoral Arena
DOI: 10.1590/S0011-52582012000400004
Switching party affiliations in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies from 1987 to 2009
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