A conjured-up polarisation endangers democracy

European societies are less polarised than in the United States—and than we are led to believe.

Polarisation is often blamed for undermining democracy—but the reality in Europe is more nuanced. A cross-country study reveals that while voters across seven European countries do sometimes tolerate undemocratic behaviour, this often depends more on the salience of specific issues than on deep ideological division. Contrary to the dominant narrative, European societies show more agreement than expected—raising questions about how polarisation really threatens democracy.

Published on Social Europe, 8 March 2023. Read it here.