Affective polarisation: political identities, emotional reactions and democratic consequences

Affective polarization has emerged as a central theme in political discourse and research. The implications of affective polarization for democratic competition are considerable. Hardened political identities make compromise more difficult and reduce the scope for electoral accountability. They can also radiate beyond political acts and impact everyday societal interactions. Finally, affective polarization could also lead citizens to accept more extreme, conflictual modes of political interaction, perhaps even including political violence. At the same time, (heated) conflict has always been part and parcel of democracy. Affective polarization might reflect legitimate grievances and energize citizens to engage with politics. In short, affective polarization is a potentially powerful phenomenon with complex normative implications. In the past years, research has made great strides in improving our understanding of this phenomenon. At the same time, many questions remain regarding the conceptualization, determinants and consequences of affective polarization, particularly in multiparty systems. Research is needed that ties in the role of political identities as well as of emotional responses of citizens to political issues and leaders. The role of emotions in the development of affective polarization remains underexplored. This Section invites Papers and Panels that help further our understanding of affective polarization and its implications for contemporary politics. Section Chairs welcome proposals from all disciplines, including political science, sociology, communication, psychology, and political philosophy, that address both the causes and the consequences of affective polarization. Paper and Panel proposals could explore, for instance: ▪️ the dynamics of affective polarization, how it is shaped by emotions and identities, and how it interacts with and is impacted by other forms of social and political divisions ▪️ the implications of affective polarization for political behaviour, including voting, campaign strategies, and policymaking ▪️ the impact on political attitudes, particularly democratic norms and political tolerance ▪️ the implications of affective polarization for democratic theory and practice.