Divided by Europe: affective polarisation in the context of European elections

As European integration has become politicised over the last several decades, scholars have paid keen attention to role of identity in shaping political conflicts and contestation Europe. This article investigates microfoundation divide by building on extending theories social recent studies affective polarisation. Large-scale survey experiment data from 25 Union member states are analysed explore extent divides integration. analysis shows a statistically significant substantively large magnitude based identity. Moreover, results show that this deserves particular as it is largely driven out-group animosity, rather than in-group favouritism. Lastly, electoral context, such salience, involvement elections, elite polarisation, strength Eurosceptic parties, influences intensity divide.