Mapping Parties' Positions on Climate Change in Pre-Crisis Greece

In the current study we examine parties’ positions on Climate Change (CC) in pre-crisis Greece, documenting the evolution of the political discourse. In particular we examine whether the positions were differentiated across the left-right spectrum, if there was a political party that demonstrated an “issue ownership” as well as whether the oppositional parties were more engaged in the CC discourse. In order to test the above we formulate a number of hypotheses which we test with data originating from the positions of the parties, as these were presented in three Greek newspapers (Kathimerini, Ta NEA & Eleftherotypia) over the period 2001-2008 (N=463). Data suggest that for the parties on the extremes, both right and left, CC was not a pivotal issue. However there was a consensus amongst the parties in the rest of the spectrum concerning CC. Moreover, CC political discourse gained momentum as the Eco-Greens entered the political arena in 2003 and successfully forwarded CC as an issue in the press, triggering an accommodating response from their ideological neighbors. While the Eco-Greens emerged as the strongest extra-parliamentary party in the 2007 elections, CC political discourse also peaked.