How parties navigate uncertainty during campaigns is a critical political science question. While past research has documented transnational emulation of issue positions, this study examines saliency strategies using novel theoretical propositions. We argue that conscious learning enables parties to infer the relative utility of emphasizing consensual issues in elections.

Our findings reveal two key dynamics: direct dependencies exist across national borders, while diffusion occurs indirectly through spillover effects within the transnational arena. Using environmental issue emphasis data from party manifestos 📊, we identify conscious learning as the primary mechanism driving strategy adoption among parties.

However, this international pattern contrasts with domestic political landscapes. In line with saliency-based theories 🔍, our analysis shows that electoral competition significantly dampens diffusion processes within national contexts. This suggests a complex interplay between transnational influences and domestic constraints shaping party strategies.