In Switzerland, antipathy towards people of another political stripe has remained stable for 20 years

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“Affective polarization” has remained stable in Switzerland since the early 2000s, according to a study.

Keystone/Georgios Kefalas

In many democracies, citizens seem to show ever more antipathy towards their political opponents. A team of researchers from the University of Basel analyzed this phenomenon, called “affective polarization”, in the case of Switzerland. Conclusion: no such emotional gap has deepened between 2003 and 2023 in the country, even if Switzerland is in a divisive political situation.

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May 22, 2024 – 11:31

In many countries, there are signs that individuals are becoming more hostile toward their political opponents, particularly in the United States. Recently, Slovakia has been in the spotlight due to the assassination attempt against Prime Minister Robert Fico, an attack linked to the deleterious political climate that reigns in the country.

And in Switzerland? Various indications suggest that “affective polarization,” that is, being less empathetic with people of other political sides, has also deepened in our country. The coronavirus pandemic in particular, but also the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have indeed sparked very emotional debates – and continue to do so. And all this while, according to an article in the Tages-AnzeigerExternal link which is based in particular on an American studyExternal link and the UNIL SELECTS electoral studyExternal linkSwitzerland would already be one of the most polarized democracies in the West and this polarization is accentuated.

Constant since 2003

However, a team of researchers from the University of Basel has now come to the conclusion that in Switzerland, “affective polarization” has barely changed over the past two decades. This is the first scientific study External linkrecently carried out on this theme in Switzerland. To do this, the team of Alois Stutzer, professor of political economy at the University of Basel, relied in particular on recent data from the SSR opinion poll “How is Switzerland doing?” dating from spring 2023.

>> Take part in the major national SSR survey “How is Switzerland doing?”, version 2024, by clicking on this link.External link

For Switzerland and its democracy, this is good news. “If emotional polarization is very pronounced, we have a problem in democracy,” defends Alois Stutzer. A country so politically and culturally diverse can only exist in the long term with political parties which certainly argue, but which are also capable of listening to each other and finding a compromise.

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According to the study, there was a short phase during which emotional polarization increased significantly, between 1999 and 2003. But since then, it has continued. “Overall, political divisions have not widened in Switzerland,” is the conclusion of Alois Stutzer.

Less sympathy for parties

The economist can only hypothesize about the reasons for this phenomenon. The frequent popular votes are certainly a factor of stability. Polarizing themes can indeed always be addressed. Another reason is the electoral system. The latter “forces political groups to constantly recompose themselves in changing constellations,” explains the professor. And he draws the following conclusion from his study: “Conflict resolution mechanisms still seem to work in Switzerland.”

Another result of the study: the sympathies of the Swiss towards the parties have generally decreased. They reached a low point in 2023.

Lately, attention has focused on the polarization to the left of the political spectrum, due to protests against the war in Gaza at Swiss universities. Does the study help determine whether emotional polarization comes more from the left or the right? “No,” replies Alois Stutzer. You always need both sides. We can’t blame anyone.”

Answer a few questions and compare yourself with the whole of Switzerland:

Text translated from German by Julien Furrer (RTS)

Survey data from three decades cross-referenced with election data from four decades

In collaboration with the SSR, Alois Stutzer’s team measured the phenomenon of emotional polarization in Switzerland based on the survey “How is Switzerland doing?” (carried out between April 3 and May 8, 2023), with responses from more than 10,000 Swiss – because the 57,000 participants in the survey did not respond to the same thematic blocks. The researchers linked this new survey data to previous data from the 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 SELECTS study carried out by UNIL.

Alois Stutzer’s team supplemented the survey data with time series on “mixing behavior” (the fact of integrating politicians into a partisan list who are not from the same party as the list) during National Council elections since 1983.

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