The “Law of Curvilinear Disparity”: Exploratory Analysis with Leaders and Electors of PMDB in Belo Horizonte

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine the link between voters and parties, using as theoretical reference the “Law of Curvilinear Disparity”. According to this law, depending on the need for electoral success, the party leaders tend to be less radical in their positions than their militants, resembling to their voters. To test the hypothesis of ideological linkages between the party leaders and voters, interviews were conducted in 2008 with the Members of the Municipal Executive Commission of the PMDB in Belo Horizonte as well as a survey with voters of this city.