Polarization and Populism in American Politics and Society

It’s now a commonplace to call American society and politics divided: politically, economically, even in overall worldview. This four-session reading and discussion group led by Dr. Brian Coyne (Stanford) sought to go beyond the day-to-day headlines to investigate the deeper causes and effects of this division. We saw how charges of elitism and suspicion of the ability of ordinary people to rule animate debates going back to the founding of the country and read some of the recent scholarship that tries to make sense of populism. We also looked at the role of universities using new data on the role of race and class in university admissions and economic mobility. Overall, the goal of these sessions was to provide a forum for open and honest discussion about some of the most pressing political issues today, open to all viewpoints and ideas. Readings were provided in advance, but these were used to orient and inform our discussions, not limit them.