The DOI matches its Crossref record; 94 of the 94 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Activists and Conflict Extension in American Party Politics
Abstract
Party activists have played a leading role in “conflict extension”—the polarization of the parties along multiple issue dimensions—in contemporary American politics. We argue that open nomination systems and the ambitious politicians competing within those systems encourage activists with extreme views on a variety of issue dimensions to become involved in party politics, thus motivating candidates to take noncentrist positions on a range of issues. Once that happens, continuing activists with strong partisan commitments bring their views into line with the new candidate agendas, thus extending the domain of interparty conflict. Using cross-sectional and panel surveys of national convention delegates, we find clear evidence for conflict extension among party activists, evidence tentatively suggesting a leading role for activists in partisan conflict extension more generally, and strong support for our argument about change among continuing activists. Issue conversion among activists has contributed substantially to conflict extension and party commitment has played a key role in motivating that conversion.
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
“At the same time, the extent to which elite-level polarization has influenced the belief systems of ordinary citizens remains a matter of debate8,27,35–40.”
From Cognitive–motivational mechanisms of political polarization in social-communicative contexts (2022) · cites this paper as [37]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, partisanship exacerbates issue-based conflict27, and party activists are capable of pushing candidates to take more extreme positions on issues over time37.”
From Cognitive–motivational mechanisms of political polarization in social-communicative contexts (2022) · cites this paper as [37]
In the citing paper
“Historically speaking, polarization in the USA reflects social patterns that began with Southern realignment following civil rights legislation, the rise of single-issue interest groups, changes in campaign finance law, and the withdrawal of moderates from party politics and primary races, especially on the political right10,27,31,34,37,72,342,343).”
From Cognitive–motivational mechanisms of political polarization in social-communicative contexts (2022) · cites this paper as [37]
Citations
Cites
(1998) · Cited by 36,049
Investigating causal relations by econometric models and cross-spectral methods
Granger, C. W. J. (1969) · Econometrica · doi:10.2307/1912791 · Cited by 22,989
Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures.
Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. G. (1980) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.88.3.588 · Cited by 20,015
An Economic Theory of Democracy.
Banfield, E. C., & Downs, A. J. (1958) · Midwest Journal of Political Science · doi:10.2307/2109186 · Cited by 18,558
Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy
Fukuyama, F., & Schumpeter, J. A. (1997) · Foreign Affairs · doi:10.2307/20048211 · Cited by 15,349
Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy.
Robinson, J., & Schumpeter, J. A. (1943) · The Economic Journal · doi:10.2307/2226398 · Cited by 6,650
Eulau, H. H. F. (1960) · American Political Science Review · doi:10.2307/1952653 · Cited by 4,744
The Semisovereign People: A Realist's View of Democracy in America
Schattschneider, E. E. (1960) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 4,262
Elder, J. W., Geertz, C., & Rosenhack, K. P. S. (1964) · Cited by 3,878
A New Incremental Fit Index for General Structural Equation Models
Bollen, K. A. (1989) · Sociological Methods & Research · doi:10.1177/0049124189017003004 · Cited by 3,008
Research works printed but not linked: 7
- Oldfield, 1996, The Right and the Righteous
- 10.1080/01621459.1957.10501379 · DOI
- Poole, 2006, Ideology and Congress: 2nd
- Black, 2007, Divided America
- 10.2307/448823 · DOI
- Aldrich, 2001, Congress Reconsidered, 269
- Miller, 1986, Parties in Transition: A Longitudinal Study of Party Elites and Party Supporters
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–200 of 348
Robinson, G. L., Amoroso, J., Wilson, I., & Yon, R. M. (2018) · Armed Forces & Society · doi:10.1177/0095327x18806515 · Cited by 24
Depolarization, Repolarization and Redistributive Ideological Change in Britain, 1983–2016
Cohen, G., & Cohen, S. R. (2019) · British Journal of Political Science · doi:10.1017/s0007123419000486 · Cited by 25
Tepe, S. (2013) · Democratization · doi:10.1080/13510347.2013.801254 · Cited by 24
Redistricting and Polarization
Altman, M., & McDonald, M. (2015) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781316287002.004 · Cited by 22
Ideological Heterogeneity and the Rise of Donald Trump
Carmines, E. G., Ensley, M. J., & Wagner, M. W. (2016) · The Forum · doi:10.1515/for-2016-0036 · Cited by 22
Theism, Secularism, and Sexual Education in the United States
Baker, J. O., Smith, K. K., & Stoss, Y. A. (2015) · Sexuality Research and Social Policy · doi:10.1007/s13178-015-0187-8 · Cited by 25
Fringe News Networks: Dynamics of US News Viewership following the 2020 Presidential Election
KhudaBukhsh, A. R., Sarkar, R., Kamlet, M. S., & Mitchell, T. M. (2022) · ACM Web Science Conference (WebSci) · doi:10.1145/3501247.3531577 · Cited by 23
Polarized Politics and Citizen Disengagement
Hussey, L. S. (2011) · American Politics Research · doi:10.1177/1532673x11416441 · Cited by 23
Political Choice in a Polarized America
Zingher, J. N. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197630693.001.0001 · Cited by 20
Cameron, C. M., & Kastellec, J. (2023) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197680537.001.0001 · Cited by 20
Saying No to Abstinence-Only Education: An Analysis of State Decision-Making
Doan, A. E., & McFarlane, D. R. (2012) · Publius The Journal of Federalism · doi:10.1093/publius/pjr052 · Cited by 20
Process Learning and the Implementation of Medicaid Reform
Callaghan, T., & Jacobs, L. R. (2014) · Publius The Journal of Federalism · doi:10.1093/publius/pju033 · Cited by 20
The Future of Health Care Reform: What Is Driving Enrollment?
Callaghan, T., & Jacobs, L. R. (2016) · Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law · doi:10.1215/03616878-3766710 · Cited by 20
The president's legislative policy agenda, 1789-2002
Cohen, J. Е. (2013) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.50-6446 · Cited by 20
Hare, C., Liu, T., & Lupton, R. (2018) · Public Choice · doi:10.1007/s11127-018-0540-6 · Cited by 20
The Efficiencies and Pathologies of Special Interest Partisanship
Krimmel, K. (2017) · Studies in American Political Development · doi:10.1017/s0898588x17000104 · Cited by 19
Opting Out of Congress: Partisan Polarization and the Decline of Moderate Candidates
Thomsen, D. M. (2017) · Cited by 18
Curry, J. M., & Lee, F. E. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108667357.008 · Cited by 18
Dyck, J. J., & Pearson‐Merkowitz, S. (2023) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197623787.001.0001 · Cited by 19
First to the Party: The Group Origins of the Partisan Transformation on Civil Rights, 1940–1960
Baylor, C. (2013) · Studies in American Political Development · doi:10.1017/s0898588x13000072 · Cited by 18
Seeking the promised land: Mormons and American politics
Campbell, D. E., Green, J. C., & Monson, J. Q. (2015) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.188505 · Cited by 18
Self-citationElite Influence on General Political Preferences
Holcombe, R. G. (2021) · Journal of Government and Economics · doi:10.1016/j.jge.2021.100021 · Cited by 21
Religion and Secularism among American Party Activists
Layman, G. C., & Weaver, C. L. (2016) · Politics and Religion · doi:10.1017/s1755048316000079 · Cited by 17
Self-citationPresidential leadership in public opinion: causes and consequences
(2015) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.193510 · Cited by 18
Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Poverty, and the Expanding Frontiers of A merican Abortion Politics
Hussey, L. S. (2013) · Politics & Policy · doi:10.1111/polp.12054 · Cited by 16
Presidents, Polarization, and Divided Government
Cohen, J. Е. (2011) · Presidential Studies Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1741-5705.2011.03884.x · Cited by 16
Ruckelshaus, J. (2022) · American Political Science Review · doi:10.1017/s0003055422000211 · Cited by 19
Candidate Experience and Electoral Success
Haime, A., Vallejo, A., & Schwindt‐Bayer, L. A. (2022) · Latin American Research Review · doi:10.1017/lar.2022.10 · Cited by 15
How Local Factions Pressure Parties: Activist Groups and Primary Contests in the Tea Party Era
Blum, R., & Cowburn, M. (2023) · British Journal of Political Science · doi:10.1017/s0007123423000224 · Cited by 15
Bipartisanship and US Foreign Policy
Tama, J. (2023) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197745663.001.0001 · Cited by 17
Governing with Words: The Political Dialogue on Race, Public Policy, and Inequality in America
Gillion, D. Q. (2016) · Cited by 15
Rhodes, J. H. (2014) · Presidential Studies Quarterly · doi:10.1111/psq.12090 · Cited by 16
Two-stage elections, strategic candidates, and campaign agendas
Banda, K. K., & Carsey, T. M. (2015) · Electoral Studies · doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2015.09.008 · Cited by 15
Self-citationThe Power of the Party: Conflict Expansion and the Agenda Diversity of Interest Groups
Fagan, E. J., McGee, Z. A., & Thomas, H. F. (2019) · Political Research Quarterly · doi:10.1177/1065912919867142 · Cited by 17
Foxworth, R., Liu, A. H., & Sokhey, A. E. (2015) · Social Science Quarterly · doi:10.1111/ssqu.12177 · Cited by 14
The Trump Presidency and the Structure of Modern American Politics
Shafer, B. E., & Wagner, R. L. (2018) · Perspectives on Politics · doi:10.1017/s1537592718003353 · Cited by 14
How Does Party Position Change Happen? The Case of LGBT Rights in the U.S.
Karol, D. (2023) · Political Research Quarterly · doi:10.1177/10659129231176212 · Cited by 13
Responsiveness and Electoral Accountability in the U.S. Senate
Kassow, B. J., & Finocchiaro, C. J. (2011) · American Politics Research · doi:10.1177/1532673x11411650 · Cited by 13
Alper, S. (2018) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2018.04.008 · Cited by 15
Industry Politicization and Interest Group Campaign Contribution Strategies
Barber, M. J., & Eatough, M. (2019) · The Journal of Politics · doi:10.1086/707493 · Cited by 13
Lee, J. Y., Jiménez, A., Choi, S., & Choi, Y. H. (2021) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.11.047 · Cited by 14
Electronic Voting and Perceptions of Election Fraud and Fairness
Beaulieu, E. (2015) · Journal of Experimental Political Science · doi:10.1017/xps.2015.9 · Cited by 13
Elite Cues, News Coverage, and Partisan Support for Compromise
McLaughlin, B., McLeod, D. M., Davis, C. R., Perryman, M. R., & Mun, K. (2016) · Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly · doi:10.1177/1077699016655755 · Cited by 15
Conservative Bias in Perceptions of Public Opinion Among American Political ElitesPreprint
Broockman, D., & Skovron, C. (2017) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2930362 · Cited by 13
The Great Interstate Divergence: Partisan Bureaucracies in the Contemporary United States
Merriman, B., & Pacewicz, J. (2022) · American Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1086/719256 · Cited by 12
Giving Girls a Shot: An Examination of Mandatory Vaccination Legislation
Doan, A. E., & Kirkpatrick, K. J. (2013) · Policy Studies Journal · doi:10.1111/psj.12018 · Cited by 12
Federico, C. M. (2020) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/awjb3 · Cited by 15
Deckman, M. M., Elder, L., Greene, S., & Lizotte, M. (2023) · Political Research Quarterly · doi:10.1177/10659129231222883 · Cited by 10
The Long War over Party Structure
Shafer, B. E., & Wagner, R. L. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108753517 · Cited by 11
Scholtz, H. (2024) · Sociology Compass · doi:10.1111/soc4.70008 · Cited by 11
Who's at the helm? When party organization matters for party strategy
Koedam, J. (2019) · Journal of Elections Public Opinion and Parties · doi:10.1080/17457289.2019.1655647 · Cited by 9
The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations: Unique Artifact of a Bygone Era
Kincaid, J. (2011) · Public Administration Review · doi:10.1111/j.1540-6210.2011.02328.x · Cited by 9
Cowburn, M., & Sältzer, M. (2024) · Political Science Research and Methods · doi:10.1017/psrm.2023.62 · Cited by 11
Does Public Financing Affect Judicial Behavior? Evidence From the North Carolina Supreme Court
Hazelton, M. L. W., Montgomery, J., & Nyhan, B. J. (2015) · American Politics Research · doi:10.1177/1532673x15599839 · Cited by 9
First to the Party: The Group Origins of Party Transformation
Baylor, C. (2012) · eScholarship (California Digital Library) · Cited by 9
The Policy Polarization of Party Activists in the United States
Collitt, S., & Highton, B. (2021) · American Politics Research · doi:10.1177/1532673x211004442 · Cited by 8
Political Parties and Loser’s Consent in American Politics
Layman, G. C., Lee, F., & Wolbrecht, C. (2023) · The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science · doi:10.1177/00027162241229309 · Cited by 8
Self-citationBefore Reagan: The Development of Abortion’s Partisan Divide
O'Brian, N. (2019) · Perspectives on Politics · doi:10.1017/s1537592719003840 · Cited by 7
Switching sides but still fighting the Civil War in southern politics
Cooper, C. A., Hood, M. V., Huffmon, S. H., Kidd, Q., Knotts, H. G., & McKee, S. C. (2020) · Politics Groups and Identities · doi:10.1080/21565503.2020.1773281 · Cited by 7
Foster, D. (2021) · The Journal of Politics · doi:10.1086/715256 · Cited by 7
Assessing the Structure of Policy Preferences: A Hard Test of the Low-Dimensionality Hypothesis
Hare, C., Highton, B., & Jones, B. (2023) · The Journal of Politics · doi:10.1086/726961 · Cited by 7
Algara, C. (2021) · Political Behavior · doi:10.1007/s11109-021-09678-x · Cited by 8
Lee, D. J., & Schutte, R. A. (2015) · Party Politics · doi:10.1177/1354068815588258 · Cited by 7
The Cultural Realignment of State White Electorates in the 21st Century
Highton, B. (2020) · Political Behavior · doi:10.1007/s11109-019-09590-5 · Cited by 6
Albert, Z., & Raja, R. J. L. (2021) · Politique américaine · doi:10.3917/polam.035.0015 · Cited by 6
Banda, K. K., Carsey, T. M., & Curiel, J. (2019) · Journal of Elections Public Opinion and Parties · doi:10.1080/17457289.2019.1614007 · Cited by 5
Self-citationCiobanu, C., & Sandu, D. (2024) · Comparative Political Studies · doi:10.1177/00104140241259453 · Cited by 4
Highton, B. (2013) · The Forum · doi:10.1515/forum-2013-0002 · Cited by 5
Mayhew, D. R. (2010) · Perspectives on Politics · doi:10.1017/s1537592710002203 · Cited by 5
Conger, K. H., Cooperman, R., Shufeldt, G., Layman, G. C., Kalkan, K. O., Green, J. C., & Herrera, R. (2019) · American Politics Research · doi:10.1177/1532673x19850081 · Cited by 5
Self-citationLupton, R., & Thornton, J. R. (2018) · American Politics Research · doi:10.1177/1532673x18783999 · Cited by 5
Grant, D., Jorgenson, A. K., Longhofer, W., & Vasi, I. B. (. (2025) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.1177/00031224251396518 · Cited by 4
Basic personal values and vote choice in 20 European countries
Lönnqvist, J., & Ilmarinen, V. (2024) · European Journal of Personality · doi:10.1177/08902070241296979 · Cited by 6
Kersting, J. B. (2021) · Politics Groups and Identities · doi:10.1080/21565503.2021.1946100 · Cited by 4
Lewis, A. R. (2014) · Congress & the Presidency · doi:10.1080/07343469.2014.896056 · Cited by 4
The life of the parties: Party activists and the 2016 presidential election
Cooperman, R., Shufeldt, G., & Conger, K. H. (2021) · Party Politics · doi:10.1177/1354068820988635 · Cited by 4
Self-citationWhite Constituents and Congressional Voting
Hansen, E. R. (2022) · American Politics Research · doi:10.1177/1532673x221087159 · Cited by 4
Simon, J., & Sonnicksen, J. (2024) · Politische Vierteljahresschrift · doi:10.1007/s11615-023-00527-6 · Cited by 4
Culture war counter-mobilization: Gay rights and religious right groups in the states
Conger, K. H., & Djupe, P. A. (2016) · Interest Groups & Advocacy · doi:10.1057/s41309-016-0004-7 · Cited by 4
Two Stage Elections, Strategic Candidates, and Agenda Convergence
Banda, K. K., & Carsey, T. M. (2012) · Cited by 4
Self-citationFractional Integration in Short Samples: Parametric Versus Semiparametric MethodsPreprint
Grant, T. L. (2015) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2615098 · Cited by 4
Political identity and risk politics: Evidence from a pandemic
Raile, E. D., Haines, P. E., Raile, A. N. W., Shanahan, E. A., & Parker, D. (2024) · Risk Analysis · doi:10.1111/risa.17654 · Cited by 5
CEO political ideology and payout policy
Bayat, A., & Goergen, M. (2025) · Journal of Banking & Finance · doi:10.1016/j.jbankfin.2024.107375 · Cited by 1
Heaney, M. T. (2016) · Research & Politics · doi:10.1177/2053168016674138 · Cited by 3
Robison, J. (2022) · Political Research Quarterly · doi:10.1177/10659129221129215 · Cited by 4
Cole, G. G. (2024) · Journal of Elections Public Opinion and Parties · doi:10.1080/17457289.2024.2343384 · Cited by 3
The Global Financial Crisis: Continuity in U.S. Federalism
Kincaid, J. (2010) · L'Europe en formation · doi:10.3917/eufor.358.0015 · Cited by 3
Assessing the ideological extremism of American party activists
Birkhead, N. A., & Hershey, M. R. (2017) · Party Politics · doi:10.1177/1354068817730721 · Cited by 3
Bringing contention in: a critical perspective on political parties as institutions
Hejny, J., & Hilton, A. (2021) · Studies in Political Economy · doi:10.1080/07078552.2021.1949785 · Cited by 3
Activist Conflict in U.S. Electoral PoliticsPreprint
Schofield, N. J., & Schnidman, E. A. (2011) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.1938395 · Cited by 3
Polarization and Partisan Divergence in the American Public, 1946-2012Preprint
Caughey, D., Dunham, J., & Warshaw, C. (2016) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2779252 · Cited by 3
The changing South in presidential elections
McKee, S. C., Hood, M., Lupton, R. N., Shino, E., & Smith, D. A. (2024) · Party Politics · doi:10.1177/13540688241284091 · Cited by 3
Welfare, egalitarianism, and polarization: the politics of noncontributory social programs
Svensen, E. P. (2024) · Journal of Public Policy · doi:10.1017/s0143814x23000454 · Cited by 2
The Heterogeneous Associations of Rural Consciousness and Political Preferences
Ollerenshaw, T. (2026) · Political Behavior · doi:10.1007/s11109-025-10113-8 · Cited by 2
Super, B. (2014) · Acta Politica · doi:10.1057/ap.2014.30 · Cited by 2
Gray, V. H., & Lowery, D. (2012) · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · doi:10.17615/w9f0-k351 · Cited by 2
The Analysis of White House Occupant and Political Polarization in the United States
Owoye, O., & Dabros, M. S. (2017) · Review of Social Sciences · doi:10.18533/rss.v2i4.94 · Cited by 2
The Political Economy of the United States in the Era of Hatred and Partisan Polarization
Owoye, O. (2018) · Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal · doi:10.14738/assrj.511.5578 · Cited by 1
Defund the police? An urban electoral analysis of the Minneapolis, Minnesota, “defund” vote
Kinsella, C. J., & Raleigh, K. N. (2024) · Journal of Urban Affairs · doi:10.1080/07352166.2024.2331514 · Cited by 2
Downs' Revenge: Elections, Responsibility and the Rise of Congressional Polarization
Henderson, J. A. (2013) · eScholarship (California Digital Library) · Cited by 2
Metadata
- Authors
- LAYMAN, G. C., CARSEY, T. M., GREEN, J. C., HERRERA, R., & COOPERMAN, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Notre Dame (US)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- University of Akron (US)
- Arizona State University (US)
- University of Mary Washington (US)
- Corresponding author
- LAYMAN, GEOFFREY C.
- CARSEY, THOMAS M.
- GREEN, JOHN C.
- HERRERA, RICHARD
- COOPERMAN, ROSALYN
- Venue
- American Political Science Review
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2010-05
- Volume
- 104
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 324-346
- ISSN
- 0003-0554 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-5943
- OpenAlex
- W2107628037
- Cited by
- 348
- References
- 94
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 105.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Political Science Review (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Electoral Systems and Political Participation
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › American Political and Social Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
- Keywords
- party activists, interparty conflict, candidate positions, party commitment, partisan polarization, American party politics
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