An emerging concern about American politics is that it has become increasingly polarized over the past two or three decades - meaning that an increasing number of people have clustered around either end of the ideological spectrum. There are more self identified "extreme" liberals and conservatives and fewer moderates.
Since ideologues vote at higher rates than moderates, this polarization in the electorate has infected electoral institutions - notably the United States Congress. The recent story about Eric Cantor's defeat in the Virginia Republican Party Primary could be an example of how this works - energized conservative ideologues kick out a Republican office holder they deem too moderate, replacing him with someone more to their liking. Moderates - voting in the general election - may be able to stop this from happening, but they have to show up at the polls.
It's a dynamic I want to dig into more this summer.
Click on these for a collection of related blog posts:
- ideological polarization.
- party polarization.
Polarization continues to be popular research topics. Inquiries range from isolating its sources, figuring out what its consequences are, and speculating on what can be done about it.
The Pew Research Center released its most recent study on the topic - which promises to be the first of a series. I'll throw a few posts out that touch on the studies findings. You should consider these things in light of the question posed in this class' opening slides - for both 2305 and 2306 - is representative government sustainable? Can the republic be maintained?
- Click here for the actual study.
And some commentary on the findings:
- The single most important fact about American politics.
- Polarization Is Dividing American Society, Not Just Politics.
- Five charts that show how conservatives are driving partisan rancor in DC.
- Wonkbook: The American center is shrinking.
- America's Fracturing Electorate.
- Energized partisans are driving polarization – but so are apathetic centrists.
