All book chapters rely on data from the Belgian Candidate Survey 2014 that was coordinated by Audrey Vandeleene and Lieven De Winter within the framework of the Comparative Candidates Survey network.
The book analyses a black box in the study of representation in European democracies and deepens our knowledge about elected but also unelected candidates. What is their background? How are they recruited? What are their campaign aims, strategies, resources and tools? How do they relate to their (constituency and central) party and their voters? How do they consider democratic governance at national and European levels?
The book answers broad political science questions on elite recruitment, electoral strategies, personalisation, party cohesion, and descriptive and substantive representation.