Affective polarization and coalition signals
- Author(s)
- Markus Wagner, Katrin Praprotnik
- Abstract
Affective polarization between partisans is potentially troubling for liberal democracy. Hence, recent research has focused on how affective dislike between partisans can be reduced. Using a survey experiment in Austria, we test whether elite signals matter. Respondents exposed to fictional news stories implying that their in-party might form a coalition with an out-party show reduced dislike toward supporters of that out-party. Our experiment also shows that coalition signals can influence out-party affect even if neither of the two parties signaling cooperation are an in-party. We conclude that cooperation between rivals has an important role in reducing affective polarization.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Government
- External organisation(s)
- Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
- Journal
- Political Science Research and Methods
- ISSN
- 2049-8470
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2023.33
- Publication date
- 2023
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 506014 Comparative politics
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Political Science and International Relations, Sociology and Political Science
- Portal url
- https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/affective-polarization-and-coalition-signals(354b4af5-f444-465f-b888-c684e82fc150).html