Affective Polarization and Contested Issues

Abstract

When, why, and through what mechanisms do contested political issues translate into hostility between citizens? Moving beyond accounts that treat affective polarization as a largely generalized partisan phenomenon, the papers examine how the content of conflict (what is being fought over, how it is interpreted, and how it maps onto social identities) shapes who becomes a target of dislike and how strongly. A shared focus is on the role of issue framing, perceived stakes, and boundary-making in turning disagreements into durable affective divides. Together, the contributions clarify why affective polarization varies across contexts and targets, and why some issue conflicts become especially potent sources of animosity.

Title	Details
Identity Construction and Threat Perceptions Around Affectively Polarized Issues in Finland	View Paper Details
Group Deprivation Divides Across Different Societal Spheres	View Paper Details
Beyond Ideological Distance: Issue Salience and Affective Polarization in Europe	View Paper Details
No Man's Land or Common Ground? How Identity and Ideology Shape Where We Live	View Paper Details