by PublicABCP
Translated and reviewed by Matheus Lucas Hebling
In the article Polarization and Ideology: Exploring the Contextual Nature of Democratic Commitment, published in the Revista de Sociologia e Política, political scientists Julian Borba (UFSC), Ednaldo Ribeiro (UEM), and Mario Fuks (UFMG) examine how political polarization influences citizens’ commitment to democracy across different ideological contexts. The study investigates the complex interaction between the ruling government’s ideology and individuals’ ideological orientations in polarized environments.
The authors pose critical questions about who truly serves as the “guardians of democracy” during times of polarization, analyzing whether certain ideological groups remain committed to democratic principles even amid intense political division. Their findings show that polarization’s impact on democratic legitimacy varies significantly depending on the ideological alignment of voters and the party in power.
The central objective of the article is to assess whether political polarization erodes democratic commitment, and whether this effect is shaped by the ideological match—or mismatch—between governments and citizens. Drawing on over 77,000 responses from 57 countries collected through the World Values Survey (WVS) between 2017 and 2020, the study combines contextual and individual-level factors to understand how national-level polarization affects people with different ideological stances, and how government ideology mediates these effects.
The results point to a negative relationship between polarization and democratic legitimacy, particularly among right-leaning voters, who tend to weaken their democratic commitment in polarized settings. Left-leaning voters, in contrast, show greater allegiance to democratic values—especially when facing right-wing governments. However, the study found no universal pattern of who the “guardians of democracy” are. It also offers only partial support for the theory of democratic backlash, which holds that political opposition becomes more democratic in response to polarization.
The authors highlight that the attitudinal effects of polarization are more nuanced than previously assumed, challenging the idea of a generalized democratic decline. The study emphasizes that polarization does not affect all ideological groups equally, underscoring the importance of both individual and contextual factors. Future research, the authors suggest, should investigate the relationship between ideological extremism, personality traits, and democratic commitment, and further explore the causal mechanisms that shape how context influences voter behavior.
About the Authors
Ednaldo Ribeiro is a political science professor at the Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM) and affiliated with the Graduate Program in Political Science at UFPR. He holds a degree in Social Sciences from UEL, and a master’s and PhD in Sociology from UFPR. He coordinates the Political Culture and Democracy section of the Brazilian Political Science Association (ABCP) and conducts research on political behavior, with publications in journals such as Opinião Pública and Brazilian Political Science Review.
Julian Borba is a full professor of political science at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). He earned his PhD in Political Science from UFRGS and completed postdoctoral research at ICS/University of Lisbon and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). His work focuses on political behavior, participation, and public opinion. He currently coordinates the Graduate Program in Sociology and Political Science at UFSC.
Mario Fuks is a political science professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), with a PhD from IUPERJ. He coordinates the Political Behavior section of the ABCP and directs the Center for the Study of Political Behavior (Cecomp). His research areas include public opinion, electoral behavior, and political psychology.
Article Details
Title: Polarization and Ideology: Exploring the Contextual Nature of Democratic Commitment
Authors: Julian Borba, Ednaldo Aparecido Ribeiro, and Mario Fuks
Publication Year: 2024
Where to Read: Revista de Sociologia e Política, Volume 32
