Pro-independence party frames and public opinion: do they work?

By employing an experimental design in Catalonia and Scotland, the present article explores whether citizens’ exposure to different pro-independence party frames helps shape people’s attitudes to secession. The results indicate that individuals hold strong pre-existing beliefs on independence, and the way parties frame secession does not seem to influence public opinion. These insights suggest that secessionist parties might prioritise the attainment of vote and office goals over policy outcomes when choosing their rhetorical strategies. The findings have wider implications for the field of territorial party politics by showing the limits of secessionist parties’ rhetoric in shaping policy preferences.