Cleavage-based affective dynamics: the capacity of the left-right dimension and the ethnonational divide to promote Affective Polarization
P13-3
Presented by: Daniel Balinhas
Scholars are concerned about Affective Polarization (AP), but despite its importance, questions about its causes remain. In this article, using a 12-wave panel dataset on Spaniards’ political attitudes and data from the Catalan Public Opinion institute (CEO), and based on literature on multidimensional political spaces and political polarization, we test two main arguments. First, that despite the capacity of the left-right dimension as an integrative “super-issue”, perceived polarization regarding other important cleavages can also lead to AP. Indeed, through linear panel models with fixed effects, we show that individual-level changes on perceived polarization regarding the territorial dimension produce individual-level changes on AP, independently of the left-right perceived polarization. Second, that the capacity of each dimension to lead to AP varies depending on individuals’ ideology. That is, the capacity of left-right and territorial polarization to lead to AP substantially differs according to the different ideological groups, highlighting the fact that distinct individuals can become affectively polarized for different reasons. Whereas left-wing individuals seem to primarily become affectively polarized when they perceive a recrudescence of left-right polarization, center and right-wing individuals do so when they perceive greater polarization regarding the national conflict. These results have potential implications for the understanding of the causes fueling AP in multinational democracies and also for de-polarizing strategies and interventions.