| This dissertation develops and tests theory about the relationship of preferences, institutions, and government policy to the dimensionality of political systems. Because of the structure of preferences, some countries have more issue dimensions than others. Institutions may shape the expression of ideological dimensions by shaping the strategic incentives of politicians and voters, and in shaping the kinds of issues that will be considered. Finally, the policies that governments pursue influence how many potential political conflicts are realized as issue dimensions. In turn, as issue dimensionality changes, strategic actors are sometimes motivated to change their choices, institutions or policies. Analyses based on roll call voting in US Congress, the US states, and cross-national data examine theory predictions concerning the dimensionality of ideological and issue spaces. |
