Divide and Conquer: disentangling Negative Partisanship and Affective Polarization

In this paper we argue that affective polarization and negative partisanship, although intertwined, are distinct concepts and therefore need to be measured each with appropriate operationalizations. We propose to explicitly connect negative partisanship to the realm of identity, and affective polarization to the realm of attitudes. We also posit that for a better understanding of the relationship between them and of how they work in societies, they should better be studied in connection. Finally, we critically examine items used to investigate negative partisanship and discuss avenues for future research, with a particular attention to the European context.