Between Liberal and Illiberal Visions of Society: Elite–Voter Ideological Congruence in Finland

ABSTRACT This study addresses a research gap in the scholarship on elite–voter linkages by focusing on ideological issue congruence between party elites and voters on a liberal–illiberal scale. Prior research has predominantly focused on congruence with respect to issue‐specific positioning, whereas comparatively limited scholarly attention has been devoted to the alignment of party elites and voters within the broader ideological contest between liberal and illiberal societal visions. We therefore asked two questions: (1) how congruent are party elites and voters in their issue positions when placed on a liberal–illiberal scale, and (2) which factors explain support for illiberal issue positions among party elites and voters? To answer these questions, we use parallel elite and voter surveys from the 2023 Finnish parliamentary elections. The results demonstrate that party elites occupy more extreme positions than their supporters, with liberal elites being more liberal and illiberal elites being more illiberal. Political experience is linked to stronger liberal orientations, highlighting the socializing effect of democratic participation, while democratic dissatisfaction consistently predicts stronger support for illiberal issue positions. By introducing an empirical measure of support for illiberal issue positions and analytically distinguishing between liberal and illiberal party elites, the study contributes to the theory‐building of elite–voter congruence in contemporary liberal democracies.