Handbook of Affective Polarization

This insightful Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of affective polarization, covering various subfields and theoretical frameworks and proposing avenues for further research. It highlights issues of conceptualization, methodology, causes, consequences, and interventions. It offers a comparative approach, examining the phenomenon across societies and political systems and providing evidence from Asia, Europe and the Americas. Leading experts in the field discuss the phenomenon of affective polarization in the light of political theory and discuss its study through the use of quantitative and qualitative methods. The next set of chapters provides comparative case studies across a range of world regions. Subsequent chapters examine the antecedents of polarization, including social and ideological roots, identities, political competition, interpersonal communication, and economic factors. The Handbook also reflects on the consequences of affective polarization, examining ramifications ranging from representation and accountability to political violence and democratic backsliding. The Handbook of Affective Polarization is an essential resource for students and academics in political science, sociology, political psychology, and adjacent fields. Policymakers and practitioners working in public administration and management will also greatly benefit from its forward-thinking insights and strategies for mitigating affective polarization.