Electoral Chairs’ Seminars – 30 March

How do voters respond to elite polarization? Mass and party polarization on immigration in Europe

Alina Vrânceanu (European University Institute)

Much of the existing research on public attitudes toward immigration focuses on the drivers and political consequences of anti-immigrant sentiments. However, we know less about mass polarization on this issue and the extent to which it is influenced by party system polarization, a factor shown in previous research to affect public opinion on a variety of issues. This paper addresses this question by employing time-series cross-section data analyses covering seventeen European countries between 2002 and 2019, coupled with additional analyses employing panel data and an instrumental variable approach, respectively. Preliminary results suggest that the effect of elite polarization on voter polarization is moderated by partisanship and the election context.

Contact Semih Çakır if you would like to participate in the seminar.

This content has been updated on 29 March 2022 at 12 h 43 min.