Thread by @hanskundnani

In an essay in the new edition of the @JoDemocracy on democratic dysfunctionality in Europe, Sheri Berman and I argue that in Europe, unlike the United States, the problem is not polarization but convergence. muse.jhu.edu/article/778230 1/6

Based on the American experience, much recent discussion has focused on polarization. But in Europe it is not so much polarization and partisanship that have led to democratic decay and the rise of populism but party convergence and diminishing partisanship. 2/6

We focus on Germany, which is the clearest and most consequential example of this dynamic. The convergence between the CDU and SPD – embodied by Merkel and the series of three grand coalitions in the last four electoral periods that she has led – has produced the AfD. 3/6

By comparing Europe and the United States, we show that convergence and polarization can both be dangerous for democracy. Whether either does so depends on the nature of polarization and convergence and the context within which they occur. 4/6

Whether polarization is problematic depends not just on the extent of polarization but also the issues on which polarization focuses. Polarization over economic issues is much less problematic than over toxic cultural issues. 5/6

Whether convergence is problematic depends on the structure of voter preferences. If parties move away from voter preferences, a “representation gap” emerges, which in turns creates a context in which extremist parties can thrive. 6/6