Strategically Inclusive Parties and Diversity of Representation

As political institutions diversify to include multiple marginalized groups, some scholars argue that inclusion functions as a strategic, vote-seeking tool. Yet, why would traditionally dominant elites prioritize candidates from marginalized backgrounds over other strategies to gain support? I propose that the salience of marginalization within electoral contexts drives strategically inclusive parties to select diverse candidates when electoral incentives align, such as in uncertain scenarios, during electoral struggles, and when voters clearly signal a preference for inclusion. Moving beyond observational studies of party behavior, I ask party gatekeepers in Uruguay to make choices about hypothetical candidate lists in different electoral environments. I find that marginalization salience drives elites to include women, minority, and youth candidates when parties face (1) declining performance, (2) opportunities to select multiple candidates, and (3) explicit demand for inclusion. By examining elites' decision-making behavior across varied electoral conditions, this study deepens our understanding of the dynamics that drive inclusive representation.