Affective Polarization and Depolarization: Insights and Innovations - 2
Mini-Conference @ MPSA 2026
Friday, April 24, 2026
Affective Polarization and Depolarization: Insights and Innovations - 2
Mini-Conference @ MPSA 2026
Friday, April 24, 2026
Session 1
Keynote Speech
Measuring Affective Polarization: Matching Concepts to Measures.
James Druckman (University of Rochester)
Chair: James F. Adams (UC Davis)
Session 2
Affective Polarization Across Contexts:
Identities, Issues, and Institutions
Affective Polarization with Weak Parties: Evidence from a Decade of Polarization in Argentina
Noam Lupu (Vanderbilt University)
Virginia Oliveros (Tulane University)
Luis Schiumerini (University of Notre Dame)
Negative Partisanship and Electoral Accountability in the 2026 Midterm Elections
Alan Abramowitz (Emory University)
The Roots of Brazil’s Partisan Divide: Debating Structural Inequalities of Race, Class, and Gender
David J. Samuels (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)
Larissa Beckman (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)
Fernando B. Mello (Universidad Carlos III Madrid)
Cesar Zucco (Columbia University)
Surveillance or Justice?: Complex Coalitions in Germany's Debate over Forensic DNA Phenotyping
Jennifer Hochschild (Harvard University)
The Apocalyptic Sectarianism of American Politics
Paul Djupe (Denison University)
Jacob R. Neiheisel (University at Buffalo)
Brooklyn Walker (University of Tennessee)
Anand E. Sokhey (University of Colorado-Boulder)
Andrew R. Lewis (University of Cincinnati)
Chair: Isaac D. Mehlhaff (University of Chicago)
Discussants: Shanto Iyengar (Stanford University), Orcun Selcuk (Luther College)
Session 3
Mapping the Roots of Affective Polarization
Is There a Connection between Social Devaluation and Support for Illiberal Populism? Evidence from Denmark, France, Turkey, and the United States
Kevin Arceneaux (Sciences Po)
Kristina Jessen Hansen (Aalborg University)
Can Zengin (Sciences Po)
Affective Polarization and Direct Election of the Executive
Isaac D. Mehlhaff (University of Chicago)
Ethnic Parties and Affective Polarization
Hannah M. Ridge (Chapman University)
Perceptions of Neighborhood Political Composition and Political Behavior
Itamar Yakir (Yale University)
Mackenzie Lockhart (Yale University)
Greg Huber (Yale University)
Alan Gerber (Yale University)
Stoking the Fire: How Highlighting Polarization Fuels Partisan Hostility
Alexa Bankert (University of Georgia)
Chair: Paul Djupe (Denison University)
Discussants: Sam Fuller (Harvard University), Noam Lupu (Vanderbilt University)
Session 4
Elite Dynamics and Affective Polarization
Does Exposure to Attack Advertising Elevate Out-Party Animus? Evidence from the 2024 Campaign
Shun Yamaya (Stanford University)
Brian Wu (Stanford University)
Shanto Iyengar (Stanford University)
David W. Brady (Stanford University)
Douglas Rivers (Stanford University)
Measuring And Predicting Support for Political Violence: Towards a Unified Theory
Sam Fuller (Harvard University)
Jack T. Rametta (University of California – Davis)
Alexa Federice (University of California – Davis)
Does Toxic Speech Shape Engagement among Elites?
Yusuf Akbulut (North Dakota State University)
Valeriya Mechkova (University of Gothenburg)
Yunus E. Orhan (Denison University)
Daniel Pemstein (North Dakota State University)
Harun Pirim (North Dakota State University)
Brigitte Seim (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)
Who Attacks Whom? Conflict and Cooperation Between European Party Elites
James F. Adams (University of California – Davis)
Josephine Andrews (University of California – Davis)
Timea Balogh (University of California – Davis)
Braeden Davis (University of California – Davis)
Alexa Federice (University of California – Davis)
Noam Gidron (University of Jerusalem)
Will Horne (Clemson University)
Won’t you be my neighbor? Race, Partisanship, and the Limits of Affective Polarization
Anne Meng (University of Virginia)
Jessica Gottlieb (University of Houston)
Damien Kelly (Independent Researcher)
Chair: Marc S. Jacob (University of Notre Dame)
Discussants: Alan Abramowitz (Emory University), Kevin Arceneaux (Sciences Po)
Session 5
Affective Polarization and Democracy:
From Measurement to Mitigation
Cool it: Lowering the Moral Temperature of Toxic Partisanship
Selim Erdem Aytaç (Koç University)
Paul Teas (University of Chicago)
Democratic Commitment and the Partisan Costs of Accountability
Marc S. Jacob (University of Notre Dame)
Bermond Scoggins (Australian National University)
Cable and Internet News Effects on Interpersonal Political Discourse
Lisa Argyle (Purdue University)
Do Citizens Think Partisan Discrimination is Wrong and Widespread?
Isabella Rebasso (University of Vienna)
Markus Wagner (University of Vienna)
Chair: Hannah M. Ridge (Chapman University)
Discussants: Alexa Bankert (University of Georgia), David J. Samuels (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)