Pandemics and Partisanship: The Impact of Political Identity on Public Health Responses

This literature review examines the intersection of political partisanship and public health responses during pandemics, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Historically, pandemics such as the Venetian plague (1575-1577) and the Great Plague of London (1665-1666) have elicited responses driven by socioeconomic and health factors. In contrast, the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. was distinctly shaped by pre-existing political affiliations, particularly between conservative and liberal factions. Applying Social Identity Theory (SIT), this review explores how group identity and partisanship influenced pandemic-related behaviors and attitudes. Empirical evidence indicates that Republican-leaning states experienced higher COVID-19 mortality rates, driven by resistance to public health measures. The review identifies gaps in the literature, particularly the need for controlling socioeconomic and health vulnerability variables to isolate the direct effect of polarization on pandemic responses. The findings underscore the significant role of partisanship in shaping public health outcomes and suggest that future research should further quantify its impact to inform more effective public health strategies.