Measuring Multi-Party Polarization: A Panel Survey Over Three Israeli Elections

• In Event: Causes and Consequences of Party Positions

Abstract

The emerging literature on comparative affective polarization—that is, dislike of partisan opponents—follows research in American politics and relies heavily on out-parties thermometer scores. Yet questions of measurement validity arise since this measure of affective polarization has only been validated in the American two-party system. We provide evidence that thermometer scores capture affective polarization also in multi-party systems: analyzing 5-wave panel data collected across two Israeli elections, we show that thermometer scores are stable within-individuals over time and are highly correlated with attitudinal and behavioral outcomes (social distance preferences and dictator game strategies respectively) that gauge intergroup relations. Our findings help connect research on affective polarization in American and comparative politics and advance debates over the measurement of this concept.

Authors

• Noam Gidron, Hebrew University

• Lior Sheffer, Tel Aviv University

• Guy Mor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem