POLI2335 · Political Science

Conflict and Polarization in American Politics

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

It was once common for observers to note--and sometimes bemoan--the relative lack of partisan and ideological polarization in American politics, yet many now believe that Americans have become too politically divided. This course examines the nature of political differences in the public, explaining how distinctions of race, sex, social class, religion, ideology, and issue positions are associated with differing choices at the ballot box. We will consider whether the strong ideological conflict now evident in elite institutions reflects similar divisions among citizens, and investigate whether the United States has in fact split into "red" and "blue" partisan territory.