In recent years, countless studies have documented increasing levels of affective polarization between partisans in the United States. Many observers see this phenomenon as a threat to democratic accountability and stability. An increasing number of studies find evidence for similar or even higher levels of affective polarization in other countries. The dominant explanation for affective polarization is that it reflects overlapping social identities. I test this explanation using comparative data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES). I find strong support for the impact of reinforcing social pressures. Given that diverse societies are composed of a variety of cross-cutting cleavages, this finding suggests that more diverse societies are less susceptible to affective polarization.

Organisé par la Chaire de recherche en études électorales et la Chaire de recherche du Canada en démocratie électorale.

Contactez semra.sevi@umontreal.ca pour rejoindre l’atelier sur Zoom.

DATE : mardi 23 juin, 12h-13h