Affective blocs: Understanding affective polarization in multiparty systems

Research has suggested that affective polarization (AP)—the extent to which partisans view each other as a disliked out-group—has increased, especially in two-party political systems such the US. The understanding of AP multiparty remains limited. We study Finland, characterized by strong system and low level ideological polarization, between 2007 2019. find driven mainly voters evaluating their least favorite party more negatively. also propose an approach goes beyond earlier literature, mostly used single aggregate metric measure AP. Using latent profile analysis, we are grouped into blocs some parties positively others This suggests complex dynamics democracies involve relationships not just individual but what call span across lines.