Immigration Polarizes the Right, and Climate Change Polarizes the Left: Study

The Differences Between Actual Polarization Effect and Perceived Potential for Societal Division
Not only is immigration the most polarizing topic, it also carries the greatest potential for societal division. However, not all topics that trigger emotional debate in the public sphere are attributed the same level of potential for societal division. This difference is most noticeable between the topics of “climate change” and “social benefits and their financing.” Political measures relating to climate change elicit strong negative feelings between people who hold differing views. Nevertheless, the respondents believe that there is only a slight potential for social division here. For “social benefits and their financing,” the results are completely different – this issue causes little polarization, although respondents believe it has a high potential to divide society.

The Educated Urban Class and Those on the Political Left Are the Most Polarized
The results show that older people, people with a high degree of educational attainment and income, and residents of large cities have the strongest negative feelings toward people who think differently. Political orientation also plays a role: On average, those who identify themselves as left-leaning are more polarized than those who identify themselves as right-leaning. Voters of left-wing and far-left parties, and of green or environmental parties, are significantly more polarized than others across Europe. Individuals who show the least amount of aversion towards people with opinions different to their own are non-voters as well as the supporters of Christian democratic or conservative parties.

Germany: AfD Voters and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Voters Are More Polarized Than Others
In Germany, older respondents are also significantly more polarized than younger people. However, there is no striking difference between people who have completed higher education and those who have not. Income as well as urban/rural differences also do not play a major role. People who place themselves outside of the center politically are more polarized. Voters of the right-wing populist AfD party as well as Germany’s Green party, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, display the highest degree of polarization. The AfD’s supporters are more polarized than those of other right-wing parties in Europe. This can be seen especially in topics of “immigration,” “war in Ukraine,” and “pandemics like COVID-19.”

Causes and Effects of Strong Affective Polarization
There are various causes of affective polarization – current events, media discourse, and political confrontations are as much responsible for affective polarization as strong political convictions and the desire to make a change. High affective polarization indicates that an individual’s opinion is emotionally charged and linked to processes of identity formation, social association, and dissociation, as well as to related dynamics of ostracization from other groups: “High affective polarization can therefore indicate ideological hardening, insufficient understanding of differing views, and a lack of willingness to compromise. Democratic decision-making processes are then made more difficult and acceptance of these dwindles. This harms democracy,” emphasizes MIDEM Director, Prof. Hans Vorländer.