Political polarization in low- and middle-income countries

In the past two decades, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in Latin America and Asia, have seen a rise in ideological and affective polarization, along with democratic backsliding. Yet, research on the drivers of such polarization's rise and persistence remains limited. We identify three general informational drivers of polarization systematically present in LMICs. First, echo chambers foster and reinforce false beliefs about opposing groups. Second, while diverse media could counter polarization, the dominance of biased traditional, digital and social media has deepened it. Third, divisive political elites using hostile rhetoric and incivility exacerbate polarization by amplifying social and political divides. We highlight opportunities to further our understanding of the empirical relevance of these mechanisms in LMICs, as well as interventions informed by these mechanisms to counter polarization.