Political Science 309 - Political Polarization

By any measure, and at all levels, American politics is deeply polarized along partisan lines, often asymmetrically so. This tribal division along partisan lines has changed the tone of political discourse, impacted the ability of our government to function, and even spread into apolitical facets of American life. This class will delve into the origins, psychology and social dynamics of this hyper-polarization. We will seek to understand the nature of this division and examine its implications for government, society and the future of American democracy.