Does affective polarisation increase turnout? Evidence from Germany, The Netherlands and Spain

Polarisation is often seen as mainly negative for the functioning of democracies, but one its saving graces could be that it raises stakes politics and encourages participation. This study explores relationship between affective polarisation turnout using three longitudinal designs. It makes use decades repeated cross-sectional surveys in Germany, a two-wave panel Spain, an eleven-wave Netherlands. tests whether increases varying operationalizations specifications, studies any boost participation extends beyond most politically sophisticated citizens. The findings suggest sizeable independent effect on even when accounting reverse causality confounding impact positive partisanship ideological polarisation. Importantly, this might somewhat more pronounced among those who are least sophisticated. concluding section discusses normative theoretical implications these findings.