Affective Polarization and Democracy: Sources and Consequences of Partisan Conflict

Affective polarization has become a key concept in contemporary 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 on 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, we still know little about the determinants and dynamics of affective polarization, particularly in multiparty systems. Research is needed that ties in the role of political identities as well as the 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 deal with the implications of affective polarization 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 political division ▪️ 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.