Issue alignment and partisanship in the American public: Revisiting the 'partisans without constraint' thesis

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• Public Opinion Research
• American Politics

Background:

• Previous research indicated gradual partisan sorting but limited ideological consistency in the late 20th century.
• The concept of "culture wars" often emphasizes moral issues as drivers of polarization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reassess trends in American public opinion using recent data.
• To investigate the ideological organization and issue alignment of the American electorate in the early 21st century.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the American National Election Studies (ANES) data from 2004 to 2016.
• Examination of correlations between political attitudes across a broad set of issues.
• Assessment of changes in the association between partisanship and issue attitudes.

Main Results:

• A striking increase in the ideological organization of American public opinion was observed from 2004 to 2016.
• Issue alignment grew rapidly, most notably in economic and civil rights domains, not primarily moral issues.
• Economic issues showed increased correlation across the electorate, and the link between partisanship and issue attitudes accelerated.

Conclusions:

• The American electorate is increasingly ideological, not just partisan.
• Issue alignment, particularly on economic matters, is a key feature of contemporary American public opinion.
• Findings challenge the emphasis on moral issues in current "culture wars" debates.