Does Populism Fuel Affective Polarization? An Individual-Level Panel Data Analysis

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6343151
AutoresJuan Pérez-Rajó (0000-0001-6286-6764, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona, autor de correspondencia)
Año2025
Volumen73
Número1
Páginas29-54
Fecha de publicación2025-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPolitical Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0032-3217 • E-ISSN: 1467-9248
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/00323217231224579
OpenAlexW4391509946
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas14
Referencias citadas60

Populism and affective polarization speak of a bisected society, and scholars have linked them at the party level. While the relationship between populism and affective polarization can be reciprocal, this article leverages panel data to delve into the causal relationship between populism and affective polarization. First, I posit individuals who become identified with populist parties will hold higher levels of affective polarization. Second, I expect increases in levels of populist attitudes to heighten affective polarization, and this is explained by both the increase of affect towards the ingroup and the decrease of affect towards the outgroup. Using nine waves of a panel survey, results show the importance of differentiating between measures of populism at the individual level, as the increase in populist attitudes appears to fuel affective polarization, symmetrically increasing affect towards the ingroup and decreasing affect towards the outgroup, while the effect of becoming a populist party supporter is more nuanced, as it is different for populist left and right parties

Econometrics · Economics · Panel data · Polarization (electrochemistry · Political science · Politics · Populism · Chemistry · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Populism, Right-Wing Movements · Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology