We hear a lot about political polarization these days, especially of our neighbours to the south. But does this trend affect Canada as well? How polarized are Canadians really?
A new study from the Canadian Journal of Political Science offers some empirical evidence in answer. Author Eric Merkley of the University of Toronto presents the results of three studies that test for partisan and ideological bias using the Digital Democracy Project’s study of the 2019 Canadian election.
Canadians are in fact trending towards greater polarization, mirroring the shift in the United States. Merkley writes:
“Although there is little evidence that Canadians are becoming more extreme in their policy and ideological beliefs, they are becoming more sorted, in that partisanship and policy beliefs are increasingly intertwined—sometimes called partisan polarization. They are also becoming more affectively polarized, where supporters of the major parties increasingly dislike opposing parties and even their supporters.”
Overall, he highlights that Canadians:
- Do select politically congenial information, though not sources of such information.
- Follow elite cues when partisan motivation is primed.
- Systematically evaluate evidence in ways that are biased by their ideological beliefs.
This is an issue that is only getting worse, and one that will certainly manifest itself in the upcoming election. Merkley concludes:
“Canadian politics is now more affectively charged, and left/right ideological conflict reinforces partisan political divisions to an extent not seen before in Canadian history. There are apt to be consequences.”
