Alliances, framing, and sponsorship: how issue polarization shapes support for SMOs across partisan lines

• In Event: 40420 - Section on Political Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 16: The Politics of Social Movements 1

Abstract

This study builds on two main ideas. First, that issue polarization observed among citizens may be contagious at the issue level. Thus, issue polarization does not exist in isolation—it may spread its polarization to other domains or, at the very least, its effects. Specifically, when a contentious issue becomes linked to another, individuals might adopt a more polarized stance, even when their prior beliefs were moderate or leaned in the opposite direction. Second, this dynamic may shape how people evaluate social movement organizations (SMOs). In particular, when SMOs form alliances with organizations tied to highly polarized issues, public support may decrease—even among those who generally align with the movement’s goals. To examine this, I will conduct an online survey experiment using Environmental Social Movements (ESMs) as a case study. Respondents will be presented with webpages of fictitious organizations that vary in problem framing, alliances, and sponsorships, allowing me to assess whether, and under which conditions, certain coalitional strategies and issue framings lead to unintended shifts in support. By investigating these potential effects, this study seeks to advance our understanding of how issue polarization influences perceptions of advocacy organizations and to examine the possible unintended consequences social movements may face in a polarized landscape.

Author

• Fabian D. Maldonado, University of Notre Dame