Does Affective Polarization Contribute to Democratic Backsliding in America
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5741977 |
|---|---|
| Authors | James N Druckman (0000-0002-1249-6790, corresponding author), Donald P Green (0000-0002-8850-438X), Sharad Iyengar (0000-0003-2406-719X), Shanto Iyengar |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 708 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 137-163 |
| Publication date | 2023-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-7162 • E-ISSN: 1552-3349 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00027162241228952 |
| OpenAlex | W4392999489 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 24 |
| References cited | 127 |
A notable development in 21st-century American politics is the rise of affective polarization: partisans increasingly dislike and distrust those affiliated with the other political party. We offer a wide-ranging review of the nature of party identification; the factors that contribute to affective polarization; and the consequences of this kind of polarization on electoral politics, democratic transgressions, and democratic functioning. We conclude that there is scant evidence of a direct link between affective polarization and democratic backsliding in the U.S., and we argue that understanding the erosion of democratic norms and institutions means that we should consider a wider range of potential causal factors among elites and the general citizenry. Affective polarization has likely made democratic functioning more difficult, though, so interventions to address it are worthwhile: these should focus on core causes rather than on behavioral symptoms
Democracy · Development economics · Distrust · Economics · Polarization (electrochemistry) · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Sociology · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Populism, Right-Wing Movements · Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology
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The Strengthening of Partisan Affect
Political Consequences of Partisan Prejudice
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The Nature of Affective Polarization
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| Unique citing works | 24 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 12 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2026 (3) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 23 |