When the Worlds of Preferences Collide: Determinants of MP’s Attitudes on the Italian Questione Romana 1861–1870

The relationship between original and induced preferences in affecting politicalactions has been a recurrent topic in the literature. Less attention has been de-voted to investigating the interaction between these two preferences, and possi-ble neutralising/reinforcing effects. We explore this dynamic on a crucial issue inXIX century Italy, the ‘Questione Romana’, employing a quantitative analysis onan original corpus of legislative speeches (1861–1870). The absence of strongparties allows investigating the relationship between MPs’ original preferencesand that induced by their voters’ linkage. Moreover, as politicians and voterswere part of the same elite, we can check how their paths of political socialisa-tion shape this relationship, leading to aligned or colliding preferences.