Political Parties and American Democracy Mini-Conference I: New Approaches to Political Polarization in Comparative Perspective

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Part of Mini-Conference

• Political Parties and American Democracy Mini-Conference I

Session Description

In line with this year’s conference theme of “Democracy, Retrenchment, Renovation and Reimagination,” this panel explores novel approaches to the pressing question of the sources and impact of political polarization on democracy and democratic participation. The panel brings together a diverse group of scholars, and each paper offers novel theoretical insights and empirical contributions. The panelists were invited to offer insight into a wide range of cases (Brazil, Russia, the USA and Europe) in a thematically cohesive panel, so that participants and session attendants can learn from each other and spark fruitful conversations about cross-national similarities and differences in the roots and effects of polarization. Each paper seeks to push forward important questions in the study of polarization. Mutz & Asimovic look at the impact of polarization on social trust; Adams et al. explore mainstream parties’ dilemmas in attempting to combat right-wing populists; Samuels et al. explore the impact of perceptions of status gains as well as losses as drivers of polarization; and Rosenfeld considers the political psychology of when voters in an autocracy will take the risk of voting for the opposition.

Sub Unit

• Theme Panel

Cosponsor

• Division 11: Comparative Politics

Individual Presentations

• Cross-Party Conflict and Diffusion of Populist Support in Europe - James Adams, University of California, Davis; Josephine T. Andrews, University of California, Davis; Braeden Davis; Alexa Federice, University of California, Davis

• Why Contemporary Elections Reduce American Social Trust - Diana C. Mutz, University of Pennsylvania; Nejla Asimovic, Georgetown University

• Polarization and Perceptions of Status Gain and Loss: The Case of Brazil - Fernando Barros de Mello, Carlos III-Juan March Institute of Social Sciences; David J. Samuels, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Cesar Zucco, Getulio Vargas Foundation

• Affective Polarization and Risky Politics in Autocracies - Bryn Rosenfeld, Cornell University

Chair

• David J. Samuels University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Discussant

• James N. Druckman University of Rochester