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Affektiv polarisering och de viktigaste frågorna i svensk politik: En studie av affektiv polarisering i Sverige

Bengtsson, Robert LU (2022) STVK03 20221
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This study examines the development of affective polarization in Sweden and
whether it can be attributed to the political debate changing its focus to new issues.
The study builds on data from the SOM-undersökning and focuses on the last
twenty years. In the study, I argue that changes in what the electorate perceives to
be the most important type of political issue have a causal effect on affective
polarization.
The study yields mixed results, as on an individual level the connection between
whether you think economic or cultural issues are more important and your
affective polarization has a relatively weak correlation. However, when looking at
the system level, we can see that changes in the general opinion on the most ... (More)
This study examines the development of affective polarization in Sweden and
whether it can be attributed to the political debate changing its focus to new issues.
The study builds on data from the SOM-undersökning and focuses on the last
twenty years. In the study, I argue that changes in what the electorate perceives to
be the most important type of political issue have a causal effect on affective
polarization.
The study yields mixed results, as on an individual level the connection between
whether you think economic or cultural issues are more important and your
affective polarization has a relatively weak correlation. However, when looking at
the system level, we can see that changes in the general opinion on the most
important issues have a stronger correlation to affective polarization than other
potential variables such as ideological polarization and partisan identity.
I conclude that there is reason to believe that changes in the focus of the political
debate to at least some degree can be contributed to the changes in affective
polarization over the last twenty years. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bengtsson, Robert LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK03 20221
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
affective polarization, ideological polarization, voting behaviour, Swedish politics, polarization
language
Swedish
id
9080054
date added to LUP
2022-07-03 08:41:13
date last changed
2022-07-03 08:41:13
@misc{9080054,
  abstract     = {{This study examines the development of affective polarization in Sweden and 
whether it can be attributed to the political debate changing its focus to new issues. 
The study builds on data from the SOM-undersökning and focuses on the last 
twenty years. In the study, I argue that changes in what the electorate perceives to 
be the most important type of political issue have a causal effect on affective 
polarization.
The study yields mixed results, as on an individual level the connection between 
whether you think economic or cultural issues are more important and your 
affective polarization has a relatively weak correlation. However, when looking at 
the system level, we can see that changes in the general opinion on the most 
important issues have a stronger correlation to affective polarization than other 
potential variables such as ideological polarization and partisan identity.
I conclude that there is reason to believe that changes in the focus of the political 
debate to at least some degree can be contributed to the changes in affective 
polarization over the last twenty years.}},
  author       = {{Bengtsson, Robert}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Affektiv polarisering och de viktigaste frågorna i svensk politik: En studie av affektiv polarisering i Sverige}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}