I introduce the reader to the concept of negative partisanship and its distinction from positive partisanship. I highlight the conceptual distinction between negative and positive partisanship at the example of multi-party systems and independent voters in the United States. I then highlight the conceptual distinction between negative and positive partisanship at the example of multi-party systems and independent voters in the United States.

I create and test three interventions that are meant to dampen negative partisanship without diminishing positive partisanship: the impact of cross-cutting identities, unifying identities, and the role of party leaders.

This chapter demonstrates the political consequences of strong positive and negative partisan identity, including their effect on turnout, vote choice, and various other forms of political participation, among partisans in the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Italy.

This chapter focuses on the measurement of positive partisanship. For that purpose, I introduce the reader to the (positive) partisan identity scale that captures crucial components of partisan identity such as partisans’ sense of belonging to the in-party, feeling connected to other party members, as well as the emotional significance of the party membership.

I sketch out a few thoughts and suggestions on the complexities and caveats of current research on partisanship as well as possible avenues for future research. I conclude the book with a redeeming assessment of partisanship’s role in democratic societies.

Utilizing data from the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Italy, I examine to what extent positive and negative partisanship promote attitudes that are antithetical to a healthy democratic society, including the support for a ban of political parties as well as the desire to see politicians physically harmed.

Utilizing a sample of US adults and a sample of Swedish partisans, I examine the link between prominent personality traits—including Authoritarianism, Social Dominance Orientation, the Need for Closure, and the Big Five—and strong negative and positive partisanship.