About this Research Topic
This Research Topic in Frontiers of Political Science seeks original and novel contributions to participate on this broad topic. In particular, this research topic aims to attract manuscripts addressing issues broadly related to some of the following questions:
• How are the increasing levels of affective polarization related to the observed decrease in trust in political parties and elites?
• How does it relate to increasing levels of electoral volatility and emergence of new parties?
• What is the connection between affective polarization and expressive partisanship in comparison to its connection with instrumental partisanship?
• Can we better incorporate social identification theory into the conceptualization of affective polarization?
• What is its connection with traditional ideological conflicts such as left versus right?
• What is the interrelationship of affective polarization and the emergence and success of radical right-wing parties?
• What role do political elites play in this process? Social media?
• Is it inherently pernicious for all democracies and their citizens?
• What are the most noteworthy consequences for democratic functioning and support for non-democratic alternatives?
• What are the effects it might have on other basic attitudes such social and political trust, and support for liberal democratic principles?
• What are its effects on democratic accountability, such as the electoral processes and the acceptance of their outcomes?
Original manuscripts using some of the following methodological approaches are especially welcome:
• Experimental (survey or lab)
• Panel survey data
• Econometric methods
• Big data analysis and innovative designs that link it to individual- or group-level data
• Longitudinal or comparative cross-national studies
• Interregional studies
• Theoretical manuscripts
The following article types are welcome in this Research Topic: Original research, Systematic Review, Methods, Review, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Conceptual Analysis and Brief Research Report.
As Frontiers is a gold open-access publisher, most accepted articles are subject to an Article Processing Charge (APC). You can find information on the APCs: here. We have an institutional memberships program and a fee support initiative in place to support authors in covering the cost.
Keywords: affective polarization, expressive partisanship, ideological polarization, social media
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.