Affective Polarization among Korean Electorate : Main Causes and Non-Political Effects(2022.12)
- Author: Nae-Young Lee
- Publication : The Journal of Asiatic Studies
- Publisher : Asiatic Research Institute
- Volume : 65(4)
- Date : December 2022
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to examine causes and effects of affective polarization among Korean electorate. In order to examine the main causes of affective polarization, this paper suggests the two contending theories: the partisan identity theory and the ideology/policy theory, and various hypoheses drawn from the two theories are tested by empirical analysis. Empirical findings indicate that affective polarization is strongly related to the strength of partisan identity as well as ideological distance and policy difference between the two main parties. In addition, strong interaction effects between the strength of partisan identity and policy difference of the two main parties is detected. This paper also tries to analyze non-political effects of affective polarization in Korea. This paper examines whether affective polarization brings negative effects on four different types of social relations between the partisans of different parties. The empirical findings show that the hypothses are only partially supported. In the highly intimate social relations such as marriage and close friendship, the negative effect of affective polarization on social relations is very salient. Yet in the less intimate social relations such as neighbors and company colleague, the negative effect of affective polarization is not salient.