Coding Instructions

The Manifesto Project Coding Instructions have evolved over time. Currently, we are using the fifth version of the handbook. Many older datapoints have been coded with previous handbook versions, if you are interested which handbook has been used for the coding of a specfic datapoint check the manual variable in the dataset. Here you can find all versions of the Coding Instructions and - if available - links to a more interactive version of the respective category scheme.

Additionally, you can download here a csv-spreadsheet (comma-separated, utf8-encoding) that contains all the categories of handbook 4, handbook 5, and the cee-subcategories of handbook 3 for spreadsheet-like access. For each category you get code, variable_name, domain, title, description, and label. This table is based on the category descriptions as documented in the codebook of the 2020a version of our main dataset.

If you are interested in the evolution of the Manifesto Coding Instructions and the Category Scheme, you can download an overview of important changes between the different versions here (pdf).

Hint: In case you are interested in handbooks regarding the collection (and sampling etc.) of documents or the party family assignment, please have a look at our further handbooks page.

Manifesto Coding Instructions: 5th fully revised edition

  • authors: Annika Werner, Onawa Lacewell, Andrea Volkens, Theres Matthieß, Lisa Zehnter, Leila van Rinsum
  • date: current version May 2021 (initial version March 2014)
  • download: pdf
  • coding scheme categories: here

Manifesto Coding Instructions: 4th fully revised edition

  • authors: Annika Werner, Onawa Lacewell, Andrea Volkens
  • date: May 2011
  • download: pdf
  • coding scheme categories: here

Manifesto Coding Instructions: 3rd fully revised edition

  • authors: Annika Werner, Andrea Volkens
  • date: 2010
  • download: pdf
  • coding scheme categories: see pdf

Manifesto Coding Instructions: 2nd revised edition

  • authors: Andrea Volkens
  • date: 2002
  • download: pdf
  • coding scheme categories: see pdf

Manifesto Coding Instructions: 1st edition

  • authors: Andrea Volkens
  • date: 2001
  • download: pdf
  • coding scheme categories: see pdf