Affective polarization is often cited as a key driver of heightened partisan hostility and an increased willingness to engage in political violence. However, limited research exploring this relationship reveals an intriguing paradox: affective polarisation appears to be negatively correlated with support for political violence. What explains this surprising trend? In this talk, Lars Erik Berntzen will will address this issue, drawing on new comparative survey data from ten democracies. His presentation provides a comprehensive analysis of the intricate relationship between affective polarization and political violence revealing the underlying mechanisms and dynamics that underpin these phenomena.
