Democracies in danger? Preference for authoritarianism and polarisation in Spain
Keywords:
Authoritarianism, Democracy, Affective Polarisation, democratic erosionAbstract
Polarization has emerged as a defining feature of contemporary political systems, carrying significant ramifications for democratic health. While rooted in genuine ideological differences, polarization is often amplified by partisan dynamics, cultivating strong out-group animosity among citizens (Iyengar et al., 2019). This affective division can erode democratic norms, fostering tolerance for anti-democratic conduct, a preference for non-democratic rule, or a simple waning of support for democracy as a system (Foa & Mounk, 2016). The research of Torcal and Magalhães (2022) and other recent contributions highlight how ideological extremism, and the perceived polarization of the party system can undermine citizens' backing of democracy. However, the interplay between polarization and democratic erosion is intricate. Situated within the current discourse on democratic survival and resilience, this study probes this crucial relationship, seeking to build a robust theoretical framework synthesizing key insights from the literature, while also investigating the causal mechanisms and the link between affective polarization and support for non-democratic alternatives within the Spanish context.
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