The Complexity of National Identity, Partisan Animosity, and Democratic Norms

• In Event: How to Increase Polarization

Abstract

Affective polarization is a defining feature of contemporary American politics which has toxic political and nonpolitical consequences. However, jury is still out on how to depolarize Americans and stimulate support for democratic norms. Our paper investigates the complexity of national identity and its potential effects on partisan animosity and support for democratic norms. Relying on two survey experiments, we prime six different forms of national identity to examine the effects of each on partisan animosity and support for democratic norms. Our treatment groups respectively prime Ethno-culturalism versus Multiculturalism, Constructive versus Uncritical patriotism, American Exceptionalism, Democracy, Rule of Law, and Civic Republicanism. We find, (1) priming Ethno-culturalism versus Multiculturalism, American Exceptionalism, and Constructive versus Uncritical patriotism will increase animosity but decrease support for democratic norms among both Republicans and Democrats; (2) priming Democracy, Rule of Law, and Civic Republicanism will reduce animosity but increase support for democratic norms on both sides.

Authors

• Rongbo Jin, Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen

• Frank John Gonzalez, University of Arizona

• Elizabeth Theiss-Morse, University of Nebraska-Lincoln