Join us as Jamie Druckman presents a guest lecture: "(Affective) Polarization in America: When It Matters Politically and What It Means for Democracy."
About the speaker: James N. Druckman is the Payson S. Wild Professor of Political Science and Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. He is also an Honorary Professor of Political Science at Aarhus University in Denmark. His research focuses on political preference formation and communication. His work examines how citizens make political, economic, and social decisions in various contexts (e.g., settings with multiple competing messages, online information, deliberation). He also researches the relationship between citizens' preferences and public policy and the polarization of American society.
Abstract: Affective polarization – where partisans come to see those from the other party as the enemy, not just the opposition -- has increased markedly over time. This raises the possibility that parties have become a sort of perverse faction, leading many to worry about harmful political consequences. Yet, despite these real and significant concerns, there continues to be scant empirical evidence of the political consequences of this affective polarization. We fill this gap by documenting when affective polarization affects issue attitudes, political evaluations, and support for democratic norms and compromise. Even though we find substantial effects, under particular conditions, we argue that the situation is not dire thanks to an often-overlooked source of pluralism in American politics: heterogeneity in the fervor with which people care about politics and their ideological passions.
Please note: In accordance with the University's Spring 2022 Covid Protocol, please wear a mask to this event and eat beforehand (lunch will not be provided).
Virtual attendance: Click here to join via Zoom