PS 129 - American Parties, Partisanship, and Polarization

Partisan polarization has been at the forefront of American politics for years. Its negative effects on society are clear, and many voters and political elites agree that unchecked partisan polarization causes harm to our democratic institutions. Yet, it also feels like these social divisions are not improving anytime soon. If most people agree that Republicans and Democrats just need to get along, then why are we still so divided by partisanship? Why did this divide emerge in the first place? And if polarization is a defining problem of American politics today, what can be done to alleviate or at least mitigate its effects? This course will explore these questions by discussing relevant literature on American political parties, voter partisanship, and partisan polarization. Through reading a mix of academic research as well as political and cultural journalism, students will learn more about the history of the modern Democratic and Republican parties; trends in voter behavior and partisanship, including how partisanship varies across different subgroups of voters; and recent research on the causes and consequences of modern partisan polarization. By the end of the course, students will have an improved understanding of American partisanship and how it impacts many of today's most pressing policy issues.