The nonlinear feedback dynamics of asymmetric political polarization.

[en] Using a general model of opinion dynamics, we conduct a systematic investigation of key mechanisms driving elite polarization in the United States. We demonstrate that the self-reinforcing nature of elite-level processes can explain this polarization, with voter preferences accounting for its asymmetric nature. Our analysis suggests that subtle differences in the frequency and amplitude with which public opinion shifts left and right over time may have a differential effect on the self-reinforcing processes of elites, causing Republicans to polarize more quickly than Democrats. We find that as self-reinforcement approaches a critical threshold, polarization speeds up. Republicans appear to have crossed that threshold while Democrats are currently approaching it.

Disciplines :

Engineering, computing & technology: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

Leonard, Naomi Ehrich ; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, naomi@princeton.edu keena.lipsitz@qc.cuny.edu

Lipsitz, Keena ; Department of Political Science, Queens College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, naomi@princeton.edu keena.lipsitz@qc.cuny.edu

Bizyaeva, Anastasia ; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544

Franci, Alessio ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'électricité, électronique et informatique (Institut Montefiore) > Brain-Inspired Computing ; Department of Mathematics, National Autonomous University of Mexico, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico, and

Lelkes, Yphtach ; Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Language :

English

Title :

The nonlinear feedback dynamics of asymmetric political polarization.

Publication date :

14 December 2021

Journal title :

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

ISSN :

0027-8424

eISSN :

1091-6490

Publisher :

National Academy of Sciences, United States

Volume :

118

Issue :

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

http://www.pnas.org/syndication/doi/10.1073/pnas.2102149118

Funders :

UNAM - National Autonomous University of Mexico
CONACYT - Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
NSF - National Science Foundation

Funding text :

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for many helpful comments. This research was supported by Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico (DGAPA), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), through the Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT) research grant IN102420, and by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt) through the research grant CB-A1-S-10610 (to A.F.) and by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant DGE-2039656 (to A.B.). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for many helpful comments. This research was supported by Direccion General de Asuntos del Personal Academico (DGAPA), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), through the Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigacion e Innovacion Tecnologica (PAPIIT) research grant IN102420, and by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnolog?a (Conacyt) through the research grant CB-A1-S-10610 (to A.F.) and by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant DGE-2039656 (to A.B.). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.
DGAPA-PAPIIT UNAM

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since 26 May 2023

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