World politics are becoming increasingly polarised - but is blind partisanship also spilling into New Zealand's comparatively harmonious political life? Researchers have pored over the views of nearly 20,000 Kiwis and found, over the past decade at least, we haven't drifted toward polarised politics. "More generally, hostile behaviour between members of different political parties, or political party leaders, may normalise hostility toward the 'out-party' and its members." But she added that affective polarisation might not always be a bad thing - particularly if it meant more people were engaging with politics, and turning out at polling stations. "However, research on affective polarisation is still in its early years, and these are speculative possibilities," she said.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 26, 2020 05:03 UTC