Divided beyond politics: How perceptions of non-political differentness are linked to affective polarization among citizens

While affective polarization is commonly attributed to political differences between partisans, recent studies suggest it also relates to perceived non-political differences, such as differences in lifestyle, class, or personality. However, little is known about the relevance of these non-political perceptions beyond political ones, whether different types of non-political traits matter equally, and how these dynamics unfold beyond the U.S. two-party context. This study addresses these gaps by examining the relationship between perceived non-political differentness and two dimensions of affective polarization—partisan dislike and social distance—in Belgium's multiparty context. Using original survey data from Flanders and Wallonia (N = 4823), Belgium's two largest regions with distinct party systems, we show that perceptions of non-political differentness substantially relate top artisan dislike and social distancing, beyond perceptions of political differentness. Moreover, nearly all nonpolitical dimensions studied matter (i.e., personality, values, socio-economic background, and lifestyle), albeit with varying importance across the two contexts and especially for partisan dislike. Altogether, these findings extend research on affective polarization by highlighting the overlooked role of non-political perceptions in our understanding of partisan animosity.