The CMP's main goal is to systematically collect, code, and analyze the manifestos of political parties from around the world. This data is then used to study a wide range of topics, including the relationship between manifestos and party ideology, the evolution of party positions over time, and the impact of manifestos on election outcomes.
The CMP's data collection efforts are particularly impressive: it currently has data on over 50,000 manifestos from over 200 countries. This data is coded using a standardized set of categories, which allows for cross-national comparisons.
The CMP's research has been published in leading academic journals and has been used by scholars, politicians, and journalists around the world. It has also been used to create a number of online tools, including the Manifesto Database and the Manifesto Matcher.
The CMP is an important resource for the study of political parties and democracy. Its data and research provide valuable insights into the ideological positions of parties, the evolution of party systems, and the impact of parties on public policy.