Cambios en la polarización partidista en el mundo (2000-2019)

Abstract

The central theme of this analysis is to approach the knowledge of the change in the levels of political-partisan polarization in the World over two decades that are compared: 2000-2009 versus 2010-2019, in order to corroborate or refute the hypothesis that there has been an increase in this polarization between the two periods. This is attempted from the data compiled by Varieties of Democracy(V-Dem) regarding the location of the parties on two axes: the traditional right-left axis, which has served to estimate polarization from definitions and through conventional formulas, like the one proposed by Dalton (2008); and another that turns out to be orthogonal and independent, related to the position of the party leaders regarding elitist-populist rhetoric. This location is estimated for the distribution of votes and for the seats in the national assembly. According to the data analyzed, the central hypothesis of this study seems to have to be qualified: between the first two decades of this century the changes in the political-partisan polarization reflecting a shift in differences between left and right towards a growing distance between elitist and populist positions.