Polarisation in Spain: more divided by ideology and identity than by public policies

EsadeEcPol | Policy Insight

Affective and ideological polarisation in Spain has been growing in recent years: political parties are increasingly far away in their ideological and territorial positions, and the feelings of one party’s voters towards the rest are among the most negative worldwide.

However, we are much more polarised on identity issues (ideological or territorial) compared to specific public policies. The data analysed show that ideological and territorial polarisation is two to three times greater than polarisation around taxes and immigration, about six times greater than polarisation around public health, and about fifteen times greater than the non-existent polarisation in the field of public services.