The Politics of Polarization

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course will examine the causes, current state, and consequences of polarization in American politics. The course will consider various conceptualizations of polarization, including ideological polarization, affective polarization, and asymmetric polarization. Students will also compare polarization at various levels of politics, from the mass public to activists and party elites. Beyond partisan polarization, the course will also address partisan sorting and the ways in which Americans now appear politically polarized across various boundaries including religiosity, education status, and geography. Students will develop a broad understanding of polarization in American politics and grapple with what the future looks like for a polarized America.