The Downsian Roots of Affective Polarization: How Ideological Issue Proximity Shapes Affective Polarization

standing models of affective polarization overlook the degree to which partisan voters’ tendency to dislike opposing parties (i.e., affective polarization) is driven by ideological proximity on key ideological dimensions. In this paper, we argue that affective polarization is driven by the ideological divergence between citizens and political parties across a host of salient issue domains. Using individual-level national election survey data from the United States, United Kingdom, Finland, and Germany we assess the degree of affective polarization is driven by partisan divergence on key issue dimensions. These findings have clear implications towards a more unified understanding of affective polarization and the role ideological preferences play in shaping the views held by political partisans cross-nationally.