Voter polarization creates a strategic dilemma for political parties—should they embrace clarity or pursue obfuscation?

Context: Faced with highly polarized electorates, Western European parties strategically simplify their positions.

Strategy & Trade-off: The decision to blur rather than clarify hinges on the issue's salience—a core versus secondary concern within the party's ideological framework. Our research reveals a distinct pattern: when an issue is deemed politically crucial (prime issue), parties present clearer stances; conversely, for less critical issues (secondary concerns), they introduce ambiguity.

Mechanism: This strategy—position blurring—is not random but systematically employed in political landscapes with varying degrees of ideological complexity. Why?

Because the American party system's multi-dimensional approach contrasts sharply against Western Europe's more streamlined methods when it comes to managing voter ambiguity.

Policy Implications: We find that parties tailor their messaging differently across issue spectrums—evident especially on highly charged topics like economic policy and immigration, compared to secondary ones. This differential treatment implies that ongoing shifts toward polarization may reshape political communication dynamics in predictable ways.