Beyond Polarization: Where We Are Today

Stat: An inaccurate “double”: Both Democrats and Republicans imagine that almost twice as many of their political opponents hold more extreme views than they really do, according to a study by More in Common.

Story: During times of increased polarization and increasing stresses on democracy, researchers are studying how to break down partisan divides and address misconceptions among members of the public. In the first episode of “Beyond Polarization,” Columbia University professor and author Peter T. Coleman shares what he has learned from his career spent fostering civil dialogue among people with conflicting viewpoints. He discusses how, despite heightened feelings of disagreement across the country, the current conditions are ideal for setting a new course toward better dialogue and understanding.

Related Resources:

• The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization
• Starts With Us – Polarization Detox Challenge
• The Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution at Columbia University
• American Psychological Association — Stress in America 2022
• Public Religion Research Institute — Competing Visions of America: An Evolving Identity or a Culture Under Attack? Findings from the 2021 American Values Survey
• FiveThirtyEight: Purple America Has All But Disappeared
• More In Common: The Hidden Tribes of America