How Contextual Features Shape Incivility Over Time: An Analysis of the Evolution and Determinants of Political Incivility in Televised Election Debates (1985–2019)

Concerns are frequently raised about politicians’ increasing use of incivility. Yet, there is little longitudinal empirical work testing whether incivility actually rising, and known the determinants that affect prevalence This study analyzes over time proposes a multi-layered framework theoretically-driven incivility-inducing determinants. A quantitative content analysis 4,102 speech acts in 24 Belgian televised election debates course 35 years (1985–2019) shows did not increase but occurs volatile pattern with ups downs years. Confirmed by our studied determinants, to be highly context-specific. Particularly, levels affected both characteristics politicians, such as populism, incumbency, gender, debate topic under discussion, number politicians simultaneously debating each other, previous occurrences debate.