The Partisan Next Door: Stereotypes of Party Supporters and Consequences for Polarization in America

Hardback

Main Details

Title The Partisan Next Door: Stereotypes of Party Supporters and Consequences for Polarization in America
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Ethan C. Busby
By (author) Adam J. Howat
By (author) Jacob E. Rothschild
By (author) Richard M. Shafranek
SeriesElements in American Politics
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:75
Dimensions(mm): Height 229,Width 152
ISBN/Barcode 9781009100311
ClassificationsDewey:324.273
Audience
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 7 October 2021
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

In the United States, politics has become tribal and personalized. The influence of partisan divisions has extended beyond the political realm into everyday life, affecting relationships and workplaces as well as the ballot box. To help explain this trend, we examine the stereotypes Americans have of ordinary Democrats and Republicans. Using data from surveys, experiments, and Americans' own words, we explore the content of partisan stereotypes and find that they come in three main flavors-parties as their own tribes, coalitions of other tribes, or vehicles for political issues. These different stereotypes influence partisan conflict: people who hold trait-based stereotypes tend to display the highest levels of polarization, while holding issue-based stereotypes decreases polarization. This finding suggests that reducing partisan conflict does not require downplaying partisan divisions but shifting the focus to political priorities rather than identity-a turn to what we call responsible partisanship.