Identity Politics and Polarization

Catalog description

This course examines the origins and consequences of political polarization through the lens of identity in the United States. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students analyze the complex interplay of institutional, behavioral, and social factors contributing to polarization including sorting, media fragmentation, political psychology, and social identity. Course topics include investigating how gender, race, and class shape political identities; exploring theoretical frameworks on the relationship between elite and mass polarization; the rise of political violence and extremism; and coalition-building strategies aimed at diffusing political polarization. Prerequisite: POL 101 or POL 102 or junior standing. Offered Alternate Years.