(Affective) Polarization in America - James Druckman 4/4/22

Affective polarization-where partisans come to see those from the other party as the enemy, not just the opposition-has increased markedly over time. This raises the possibility that parties have become a sort of perverse faction, leading many to worry about harmful political consequences. Yet, despite these real and significant concerns, there continues to be scant empirical evidence of the political consequences of this affective polarization. Northwestern University political scientist James Druckman and his colleagues fill this gap by documenting when affective polarization affects issue attitudes, political evaluations, and support for democratic norms and compromise.