Individual and institutional dimensions of affective polarisation: A proposal for an analytical framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22325/fes/res.2024.206Keywords:
Affective polarisation, multiparty system, partisanship, political speech, political consensusAbstract
While there is a considerable range of academic literature on affective polarisation regarding the United States, interest in the previously largely ignored European context has multiplied in the last decade. This paper aims to delve into the two main dimensions of affective polarisation. First, the individual dimension refers to the political discourse and the relationship between individuals and political elites. Second, the institutional dimension is related to the irruption of multiparty systems. The results highlight that the atomisation of the political spectrum renders the study of animosity even more complex. Our research leads us to conclude that, despite the advances, it is necessary to carry out an in-depth analysis of affective polarisation, especially into its effects on the quality of institutions. By unleashing confrontations between individuals and parties, affective polarisation results in the postponement of key policies that require broad parliamentary consensus.
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