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In-Party Love, Out-Party Hate, and Affective Polarization in Twelve Established Democracies
Diego Garzia1, Frederico Ferreira da Silva2
1Assistant Professor, Institute of Political Studies, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Public Opinion Quarterly
|August 25, 2025
Summary
Affective polarization in Western democracies shows declining out-party evaluations and increasing out-party hate. Contemporary polarization is driven by dislike for opposing parties, not necessarily increased overall division.
Area of Science:
- Political Science
- Comparative Politics
- Public Opinion Research
Background:
- Affective polarization, a key aspect of political division, is increasingly studied globally.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the long-term trends of in-party and out-party affect, crucial components of affective polarization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To expand the comparative and longitudinal analysis of affective polarization in Western democracies.
- To investigate the evolution of in-party affection and out-party animosity since the 1960s.
- To assess changes in the relative weight of positive and negative partisan feelings over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized national election study data from 143 elections across 12 Western democracies, spanning from the 1960s to the present.
- Analyzed levels of in-party and out-party affect, specifically 'in-party love' and 'out-party hate'.
- Employed a composite measure to examine longitudinal changes in the polarity of affect, reflecting the balance of in- and out-party feelings.
Main Results:
- Observed a widespread decline in positive evaluations of out-parties over the studied period.
- Documented a growing prevalence of 'out-party hate' relative to 'in-party love' across Western democracies.
- Found that while overall polarization may not have increased universally, contemporary affective polarization is marked by a stronger emphasis on out-group dislike.
Conclusions:
- Contemporary affective polarization in Western democracies is increasingly characterized by negative feelings towards opposing parties.
- The trend indicates a shift towards polarization driven by animosity rather than intensified positive affiliation with one's own party.
- Longitudinal data reveal a significant evolution in the nature of partisan affect, with out-group dislike playing a more dominant role.
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