Does American identity still bind us together? A replication of Levendusky’s experiment (2018)

Does American identity still bind us together? As scholars explore approaches to mitigate affective polarization, one promising intervention – priming a Common Ingroup Identity (CII) through national identity – has attracted significant attention. However, recent findings suggest that this intervention may not be as effective as once believed. Through a replication of Levendusky's (2018) experiment experiment, and a conceptual replication using Nationscape and American National Election Studies survey data, this study uncovers two critical findings. First, Levendusky’s treatment is no longer effective in constraining affective polarization in the current political context. Second, negative feeling toward the nation is closely associated with intensified out-party animosity. This research contributes to our understanding of the limitations of depolarization interventions and highlights the potential negative consequences that may arise when national identity is activated in a hyperpolarized environment.