One more constrained than the other : Asymmetrical ideological alignment and its implications for polarization

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14230%2F25%3A00140991" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14230/25:00140991 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1475-6765.70016" target="_blank" >https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1475-6765.70016</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.70016" target="_blank" >10.1111/1475-6765.70016</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

One more constrained than the other : Asymmetrical ideological alignment and its implications for polarization

Original language description

This study examines the ideological alignment of beliefs within opposing partisan camps in Europe. Integrating multiple types of research, I hypothesize that partisans on the ideological left exhibit greater alignment in their beliefs compared to those on the right - an asymmetry that extends across various issues. I argue that on the scale of ideological contention, it matters if partisans on one ideological pole are more aligned in beliefs than those on the other. Only the less ideological of opposing camps determines the extent of mutual disagreement. Utilizing conventional methods and innovative belief network modelling, I analyse survey data from the fourth and eighth waves of the European Social Survey (2008, 2016). To test the hypothesis, I match partisans with the data on their party's ideology, covering partisans from 131 parties in 15 European countries to test this hypothesis. My findings reveal that, both at the European level and within national contexts, there is a broad and substantive asymmetry between the right and the left across ideological dimensions and issues. However, the study also uncovers the limits of this asymmetry, highlighting a significant shift in ideological alignment on sociocultural issues on the right, indicating the emergence of a deeper, broader ideological conflict in that dimension. Furthermore, my analysis demonstrates the marginal influence of strategies like position blurring and programmatic nicheness. These insights shed light on the nature of partisan contention in Europe and how it disproportionately depends on ideological alignment on the right.

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

50601 - Political science

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA22-33158S" target="_blank" >GA22-33158S: The nature and origin of political conflicts and politically motivated divides of Czech society</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)<br>S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

European Journal of Political Research

ISSN

0304-4130

e-ISSN

1475-6765

Volume of the periodical

64

Issue of the periodical within the volume

4

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

29

Pages from-to

1945-1973

UT code for WoS article

001464702000001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105002476428