The DOI matches its Crossref record; 137 of the 141 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
American Affective Polarization in Comparative Perspective
Abstract
American political observers express increasing concern about affective polarization, i.e., partisans' resentment toward political opponents. We advance debates about America's partisan divisions by comparing affective polarization in the US over the past 25 years with affective polarization in 19 other western publics. We conclude that American affective polarization is not extreme in comparative perspective, although Americans' dislike of partisan opponents has increased more rapidly since the mid-1990s than in most other Western publics. We then show that affective polarization is more intense when unemployment and inequality are high; when political elites clash over cultural issues such as immigration and national identity; and in countries with majoritarian electoral institutions. Our findings situate American partisan resentment and hostility in comparative perspective, and illuminate correlates of affective polarization that are difficult to detect when examining the American case in isolation.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“These studies converge on the finding that levels of affective polarization are not especially prominent in the United States, but that polarization has grown stronger there than anywhere else.”
From Affective Polarization in Comparative and Longitudinal Perspective (2023) · cites this paper as Gidron, Adams, and Horne 2020
In the citing paper
“Gidron, Adams, and Horne (2020) analyze data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES) for 20 democracies over the 1996–2017 period and conclude that America’s intensifying affective polarization is not part of a cross-national trend.”
From Affective Polarization in Comparative and Longitudinal Perspective (2023) · cites this paper as Gidron, Adams, and Horne (2020)
In the citing paper
“Existent research shows that affective polarization has been intensifying in some publics, diminishing in others, and remaining stable in most.”
From Affective Polarization in Comparative and Longitudinal Perspective (2023) · cites this paper as Gidron, Adams, and Horne (2020)
In the citing paper
“Similarly, in their comparative study of twenty democracies, Gidron et al. (2020) identified Spain as the most affectively polarized country.”
From ¿Demasiado lejos? Cómo la polarización mal percibida alimenta la polarización afectiva en España (2025) · cites this paper as Gidron et al. (2020)
In the citing paper
“Spain is marked by high levels of affective polarization.”
From ¿Demasiado lejos? Cómo la polarización mal percibida alimenta la polarización afectiva en España (2025) · cites this paper as Gidron et al. (2020)
In the citing paper
“This research finds that several nations are even more polarized than the United States (Gidron et al., 2020), although the United States seems to have had the sharpest recent increase (Boxell et al., 2024;Gidron et al., 2020).”
From Measuring affective polarization: Matching concepts to measures (2026) · cites this paper as Gidron et al., 2020
In the citing paper
“This measure has been included in large, cross-national surveys such as the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES) survey and the Comparative National Election Project (CNEP) (e.g., Boxell et al., 2024;Ferreira Da Silva & Garzia, 2024;Gidron et al., 2020;Wagner, 2021;Ward & Tavits, 2019).”
From Measuring affective polarization: Matching concepts to measures (2026) · cites this paper as Gidron et al., 2020
In the citing paper
“Paralleling the U.S. case, a modal measure in cross-national, multi-party contexts is a like/dislike scale, somewhat akin to the feeling thermometer.”
From Measuring affective polarization: Matching concepts to measures (2026) · cites this paper as Gidron et al., 2020
In the citing paper
“Although it is beyond the purview of our analysis, it is important to keep in mind that levels of polarization (and their political consequences) depend on a number of contextual factors65.”
From Cognitive–motivational mechanisms of political polarization in social-communicative contexts (2022) · cites this paper as [65]
In the citing paper
“For example, there is evidence that ideological, issue and affective polarization have increased rapidly in the USA in the past few decades339,340, but it is also true that levels of polarization in the USA are smaller than (or similar to) levels observed in other countries65,341.”
From Cognitive–motivational mechanisms of political polarization in social-communicative contexts (2022) · cites this paper as [65]
Citations
Cites
The Origins and Consequences of Affective Polarization in the United States
Iyengar, S., Lelkes, Y., Levendusky, M., Malhotra, N., & Westwood, S. J. (2019) · Annual Review of Political Science · doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-051117-073034 · Cited by 3,603
Iyengar, S., Sood, G., & Lelkes, Y. (2012) · Public Opinion Quarterly · doi:10.1093/poq/nfs038 · Cited by 2,996
Cultural Backlash: Trump, Brexit, and Authoritarian Populism
Norris, P., & Inglehart, R. (2019) · doi:10.1017/9781108595841 · Cited by 2,986
Fear and loathing across party lines: New evidence on group polarization
Iyengar, S., & Westwood, S. J. (2015) · American Journal of Political Science · doi:10.1111/ajps.12152 · Cited by 2,452
West European Politics in the Age of Globalization
Kriesi, H., Grande, E., Lachat, R., Dolezal, M., Bornschier, S., & Frey, T. (2008) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511790720 · Cited by 2,335
The Transformation of European Social Democracy
Kitschelt, H. P. (1994) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511622014 · Cited by 2,007
Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity
Mason, L. (2018) · doi:10.7208/chicago/9780226524689.001.0001 · Cited by 1,985
Spatial Models of Party Competition
Stokes, D. (1963) · American Political Science Review · doi:10.2307/1952828 · Cited by 1,970
Gilens, M. (1999) · University of Chicago Press eBooks · doi:10.7208/chicago/9780226293660.001.0001 · Cited by 1,803
Polarized America: the dance of ideology and unequal riches
(2007) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.44-3551 · Cited by 1,793
Flagged first, then by citations
4 of the 141 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 10
- Gidron, American Affective Polarization in Comparative Perspective, 10.1017/9781108914123
- Mickey, 2017, Is America still a democracy?, Foreign Affairs, 20, 20
- Bale, 2019, Brexit and Public Opinion, 27
- Kalmoe, 2019, Lethal Mass Partisanship: Prevalence, Correlates, and Electoral Contingencies
- 10.31219/osf.io/j7d4t · DOI
- Volkens, 2017, The Manifesto Data Collection. Manifesto Project (MRG/CMP/MARPOR)
- Bonikowski, Bart , Feinstein, Yuval , and Bock, Sean . (2019). The Polarization of Nationalist Cleavages and the 2016 US Presidential Election. Annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC. · DOI
- 10.1017/9781108644655 · DOI
- Anton, Michael . (2016). “The Flight 93 election.” Claremont Review of Books, Digital Edition, September 5, 2016.
- 10.1515/9781400831593 · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 401–493 of 493
Silent Voices or More than a Feeling? January 6th Insurrection and Racialized (Non)Attitudes
Martinez, C., & Ramírez, R. (2025) · The Journal of Race Ethnicity and Politics · doi:10.1017/rep.2025.5
Duche-Pérez, A. B., Grundy-López, R. E., Hillpa-Zuñiga, M. E., Escobar-Juárez, A. M., Paredes-Velazco, R., Gonzales, H. E. A., & Yagua-López, A. J. (2025) · Journal of Lifestyle and SDGs Review · doi:10.47172/2965-730x.sdgsreview.v5.n04.pe05670
Relative out-party hostility and its consequences in multiparty democracies
Eroğlu, M. H. (2025) · Electoral Studies · doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2025.102924
The evaluation of democratic performance from a comparative longitudinal perspective
Torcal, M., & Trechsel, A. H. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198883319.003.0008
Stolle, D. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198883319.003.0014
Political Trust and Democracy: Canada in Comparative Perspective
Dawson, A. (2025) · Journal of Canadian Studies · doi:10.3138/jcs-2025-0212
Political Rational Inattention: A New Measure With an Application to Political PolarizationPreprint
Goldstein, N., Lagziel, D., & Raveh, O. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5210838
How Nationalized are American State Publics?Preprint
Santucci, J. (2025) · doi:10.33774/apsa-2025-h52kz
Personality and (Negative) Partisanship in Canadian Federal Politics
McGregor, R. M., Mungall, L. R., & Pruysers, S. (2025) · Political Studies · doi:10.1177/00323217251338491
Mendoza, P. A., & Rodríguez, V. L. (2025) · Historia y Comunicación Social · doi:10.5209/hics.102660
El malestar en Costa Rica: ¿alertas desde la cultura democrática?
Cordero, M. C. V., Santamaría, C. G., & Ávila, M. C. (2025) · doi:10.35242/tse_2024_3
Kim, D., Muraoka, T., Lucas, C., Montgomery, J., & Tavits, M. (2025) · Political Science Research and Methods · doi:10.1017/psrm.2025.22
Happy and glorious? The sometimes-unifying effects of the British monarchy
Davis, B., & Huang, Y.-S. (2025) · Electoral Studies · doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2025.102961
Should Political Discrimination be Unlawful?
Simpson, T. W. (2025) · British Journal of Political Science · doi:10.1017/s0007123425100604
Segovia, C. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_4382-1
Kang, M., & Park, C. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197777497.013.0022
Congenial messages from politicians reduce affective polarization among citizens
Pedersen, R. T., Christensen, J., & Petersen, N. B. G. (2025) · European Journal of Political Research · doi:10.1017/s1475676525100030 · Cited by 1
Colson-Sihra, E., de Sousa, J., & Mayer, T. (2025) · Journal of Urban Economics · doi:10.1016/j.jue.2025.103800
A game of tariffs: is there demand for tariffs in Europe?
Grahn, M., Lawall, K., Mainz, S., Nordbrandt, M., & Turnbull-Dugarte, S. J. (2025) · Journal of European Public Policy · doi:10.1080/13501763.2025.2571062
Luque, S. G., Rovira, C. F., & Saboya, M. F. (2025) · Atlantis highlights in social sciences, education and humanities/Atlantis Highlights in Social Sciences, Education and Humanities · doi:10.2991/978-94-6463-868-4_22
Affective States: Cultural and Affective Polarization in a Multilevel-Multiparty System
Paltra, D., Sältzer, M., & Stecker, C. (2025) · Political Behavior · doi:10.1007/s11109-025-10088-6 · Cited by 1
The impact of party-voter congruence on affective polarization: evidence from Belgium
Eck, B., Michel, E., & Haute, É. V. (2025) · Journal of Elections Public Opinion and Parties · doi:10.1080/17457289.2025.2598210
Barbosa, P. M. R., & Guerriero, A. Z. (2025) · Revista de Sociologia e Política · doi:10.1590/1678-98732433e011
Theorizing American Exceptionalism: An Interdisciplinary Historiography and Intellectual HistoryPreprint
Jouet, M. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5376038
Kollberg, M., & Vanagt, J. (2025) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Díaz, P. L. P., Medina, R. Z., & Pérez-Escolar, M. (2025) · VISUAL REVIEW International Visual Culture Review / Revista Internacional de Cultura Visual · doi:10.62161/revvisual.v17.6126
Immigration and American Identity
Moghaddam, F. M., Hendricks, M. J., & Salas-Schweikart, R. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009412186.008
The Immigration Challenge and National Identity
Moghaddam, F. M., Hendricks, M. J., & Salas-Schweikart, R. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009412186.007
Sychowiec, M. (2025) · Studia Politicae Universitatis Silesiensis · doi:10.31261/spus.22848
Loy, L., & Wetts, R. (2026) · Social Problems · doi:10.1093/socpro/spag003
Lee, Y., Piñeyrúa, F., Czymara, C. S., & Weber, M. (2026) · Computational Social Sciences · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-01373-6_7
González, L., Guirola, L. M., & Zapater, B. (2026) · Journal of Population Economics · doi:10.1007/s00148-026-01151-5
Angry losers? The (null) effects of feeling electoral loss on anti-democratic attitudes
Lawall, K., Michalaki, K., & Manos Tsakiris, A. (2026) · European Journal of Political Research · doi:10.1017/s1475676525100601
Realignment: From Identities to Votes
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0009
Tribal Politics: A Theory of Issue-Based Identities
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0002 · Cited by 1
Two Tribes: Affective Polarization and Brexit Identities
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0006
Transformation: From an Issue to an Identity
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0005
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.005.0002
The EU Issue: Elite Division and Public Indifference
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0003
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0001
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.002.0004
Tribal Bias: Seeing the World through a Brexit Lens
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0007
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.002.0005
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0010
The Trigger: The Brexit Referendum and its Fallout
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0004
Identity Anchors: Tribes, Traits, and Echo Chambers
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.003.0008
HOBOLT, S. B., & Tilley, J. R. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198911746.005.0001
The Political Economy of National IdentityPreprint
Gidron, N., & Shayo, M. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6377819
Self-citationUrbániková, M., Goyanes, M., & Jordá, B. (2026) · Information Communication & Society · doi:10.1080/1369118x.2026.2653099
A System-Analysis of Democracy's Crisis
Levine, P. (2026) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s1059-433720260000091003
Marry on a cross. Individualism, divorce, and radical self-placement: The Spanish case
González-Tormo, C., & Blanes-Tortajada, M. (2025) · ACTA POLITOLOGICA · doi:10.2478/acpo-2025-0006
Rodríguez, A. A. L. (2026) · Política y Sociedad · doi:10.5209/poso.98961
Down-to-Earth vs. Cosmopolitan? Lifestyle and Polarization in Germany
Lux, T., Mau, S., & Westheuser, L. (2026) · MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) · doi:10.18452/37884
4 Trust Gap Three: How High Quality of Government/High-Trust Countries Make Policy Work
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.ch004
Introduction: Dissecting the ‘Crisis of Trust’
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.int001
Adams, J., Andrews, J., Davis, B., & Federice, A. (2026) · European Union Politics · doi:10.1177/14651165261450532
Self-citationWhy Institutional Trust Matters
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.ch001
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.ch003
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.bm002
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.bm004
Trust Gap One: Who We Trust and Who We Don’t
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.ch002
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.fm001
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.bm003
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.ch006
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.bm001
Trust Gap Four: Trust in the Media Versus Trust in Experts
Martin, A. (2026) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529255621.ch005
(Mis)information, Polarization, and Trust in Elections: Longitudinal Evidence from Canada
Lavigne, M., Garnett, H. A., & Bridgman, A. (2026) · Public Opinion Quarterly · doi:10.1093/poq/nfag035
Remembering the Disease behind the Symptoms – the Oligarchical Causes of Democratic Backsliding
Heidemann, K. (2026) · International Journal of Politics Culture and Society · doi:10.1007/s10767-026-09585-1 · Cited by 1
Heuristic Inference and the Left-Right
Lee, S., Santoso, L. P., & Stevenson, R. T. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009430807
Affective polarization and the support for populist and technocratic governance
Engler, S., Bantel, I., & Leemann, L. (2026) · Party Politics · doi:10.1177/13540688261461499
Santoso, L. P. (2026) · Comparative Political Studies · doi:10.1177/00104140261466975
Elite affective polarization and government formation
Bäck, H., Carroll, R., Hellström, J., & Lindahl, J. (2026) · European Journal of Political Research · doi:10.1017/s1475676526101480
Discrete emotions towards leaders and partisan affect: Evidence from five multiparty democracies
Thomson, Z. A. (2026) · Journal of Social and Political Psychology · doi:10.5964/jspp.15707
Castaldo, A., Mauro, D. D., & Memoli, V. (2026) · Journal of Elections Public Opinion and Parties · doi:10.1080/17457289.2026.2701897
Political Polarization and Three Types of Epistemic Distortion
Kulenović, E. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-27049-8_5
Sodoma, K. A., & Sharp, D. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-27049-8_12
Echo Chambers and Filter Bubbles Don’t Reflect Our Media Environment
Dubois, E., & Renna, G. (2023) · doi:10.66536/echo-chambers-filter-bubbles_2023
The Reactionary Society: Affective Polarization, Collective Resentment, and the New Social Question
Yılmaz, Z. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-21761-5_4
Porat, I., & Cohen‐Eliya, M. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009331920.003
Porat, I., & Cohen‐Eliya, M. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009331920.002
Rebasso, I., & Krupnikov, Y. (2026) · Political Communication · doi:10.1080/10584609.2026.2715701
Polarización afectiva en españa (2020-2025): del feminismo a la migración
Mira, E. C., Escribano, J. J. G., & Álvarez, C. L. (2026) · Studia Humanitatis Journal · doi:10.33732/shj.v6i2.189
Sychowiec, M. (2026) · Acta Politica · doi:10.1057/s41269-026-00439-4
Farjam, M., Meyer, H., Segesten, A. D., & Brüggemann, M. (2026) · Journalism · doi:10.1177/14648849261491026
Positional Blurring in Context: How Dimensionality and Ideology Constrain Strategy
de la Cerda, N., & Gunderson, J. R. (2026) · Perspectives on Politics · doi:10.1017/s1537592726105805
US Life Expectancy and Increasing Mortality Rates: An Analysis of the Crisis
WOOLF, S. H. (2026) · Milbank Quarterly · doi:10.1111/1468-0009.70118
Democracias en peligro: preferencia por el autoritarismo y polarización en España
Megías, A., & Moreno, C. (2026) · Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas · doi:10.5477/cis/reis.196.33-52
Autocratización, erosión y resiliencia de la democracia
Rubalcaba, P. O. (2026) · Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas · doi:10.5477/cis/reis.196.3-12
Laufer, L., Gerstner, L., Kinzler, P., Stockwald, J., Sacher, A.-L., & Reinemann, C. (2026) · European Journal of Political Research · doi:10.1017/s147567652610190x
Do Political Conversations Persuade or Polarize? Evidence From a Real-Time Randomized Experiment
Simhon, O. B., & Amsalem, E. (2026) · Communication Research · doi:10.1177/00936502261498263
Metadata
- Authors
- Gidron, N., Adams, J., & Horne, W.
- Affiliations
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Princeton University (US)
- Venue
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Published
- 2020-11-02
- OpenAlex
- W3095877091
- Cited by
- 481
- References
- 141
- Citations by year
- 2026: 62 · 2025: 113 · 2024: 103 · 2023: 82 · 2022: 69 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 83.81
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Electoral Systems and Political Participation
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Populism, Right-Wing Movements
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
- Keywords
- affective polarization, political hostility, partisan divisions, comparative politics, unemployment, income inequality, immigration, national identity, majoritarian systems, political elites, United States
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review