Polarization as a challenge to government formation in parliamentary democracies

The role of globalization in shaping modern politics has reached historic importance, with unprecedented support for anti-globalization parties across the Western world. Many scholars have suggested that societies are becoming more polarized, at the mass- and elite-level. The project takes its starting point the potential challenge polarization poses to European political systems.

Scholars have raised alarm about the functioning of the US Congress, for example stressing problems such as gridlock, focusing on the rapidly deepening divisions among members of Congress. We know much less about polarization in European parliaments, a gap the project aims to fill.

In the European context, it becomes important to study how polarization influences the functioning of parliamentary government.

We thus ask, does increased polarization create challenges for government formation and survival, for example resulting in longer government formation processes, and more short-lived cabinets?

The project is innovative in its interdisciplinary approach, drawing on political science and psychology research, and distinguishing between ideological and affective polarization, where the latter is connected to the emotions that arise when groups are threatened.

This four-year project makes use of several advanced research methods, such as computerized text analysis techniques analyzing parliamentary speeches, along with elite surveys.