Elite Polarization and Mass Political Engagement: Information, Alienation, and Mobilization

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Using the cumulative ANES survey (1972-2004), this paper examines the effect of elite polarization on various measures of mass political engagement when alienation, mobilization and informational factors are included together in the estimation model. I also focus on the conditional effect of existing cognitive ability of an individual as I explore mass engagement question because citizens can respond differently to changed informational environment depending on their different levels of education. The findings of this study indicate that the effects of increasing elite polarization in the U.S. Congress on mass political engagement is rather ambiguous because the signs and the magnitudes of the effects are varying by measures of political engagement and levels of education. The ambiguity in findings might explain why previous research has provided conflicting empirical evidences regarding its effect on mass politics.

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