Negative Partisanship in Multi-Party Systems

• In Event: The Influence of Negative Partisanship

Abstract

Negative partisanship describes the fierce animosity toward a political party. In the U.S., this concept has gained credence to explain the increasingly hostile relationship between Democrats and Republicans. Yet, questions remain regarding the nature and impact of negative partisanship in multi-party systems where there is no simple distinction between in-party and out-party. For example, does negative partisanship among European voters develop toward the in-party’s strongest opponent, an ideological adversary, or an ideologically extreme political party? And how do these different targets of negative partisanship impact voters’ political behavior? This manuscript aims to answer these questions by examining negative partisanship in four European multi-party systems. Using original survey data, I provide evidence for the existence of different types of negative partisanship as well as their influence on Europeans’ political participation and their commitment to democratic norms and values. I conclude the article with a discussion of negative partisanship’s multi-layered nature.

Author

• Alexa Bankert, University of Georgia