Network Structures and Partisan Dynamics: Examining the Effect of Different Neighborhood Networks on Partisan Homogeneity across the Urban-Rural Divide

Charlotte Kuberka (LSE)

Abstract:

In recent years, polarization in opinions and political preferences has intensified in many societies, driven by complex interactions between interpersonal social influence processes, specific meso-level conditions like network structures, and macro-level outcomes such as partisan polarization. This research examines how meso-level conditions, particularly network structures, influence partisan homogeneity across the urban-rural divide. Using a Bounded Confidence Model, I simulate partisan affiliation convergence and polarization in both urban and rural settings, initializing the simulation with US voter registration data to address criticisms of Agent Based Models for lacking empirical validation. The findings suggest that rural neighborhoods experience a greater increase in partisan homogeneity than urban areas, primarily due to the influence of network structures rather than a narrower socialization process.