Divided by the Vote: Affective Polarization in the Wake of the Brexit Referendum
2020/07/07 by Sara B. Hobolt, Thomas J. Leeper, James Tilley · 491 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Brexit #Democracy #Economics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #European union #International trade #Law #Polarization (electrochemistry) #Political economy #Political science #Politics #Populism, Right-Wing Movements #Prejudice (legal term) #Psychology #Public opinion #Referendum #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Social psychology #Sociology
paper · open access · doi:10.1017/s0007123420000125
published in British Journal of Political Science 51(4), 1476-1493 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 2020/07/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Abstract
Abstract A well-functioning democracy requires a degree of mutual respect and a willingness to talk across political divides. Yet numerous studies have shown that many electorates are polarized along partisan lines, with animosity towards the partisan out-group. This article further develops the idea of affective polarization, not by partisanship, but instead by identification with opinion-based groups. Examining social identities formed during Britain's 2016 referendum on European Union membership, the study uses surveys and experiments to measure the intensity of partisan and Brexit-related affective polarization. The results show that Brexit identities are prevalent, felt to be personally important and cut across traditional party lines. These identities generate affective polarization as intense as that of partisanship in terms of stereotyping, prejudice and various evaluative biases, convincingly demonstrating that affective polarization can emerge from identities beyond partisanship.
Citations
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