A New Study Finds Americans Support Politicians Who Respect the Courts
The research suggests that political polarization, while very real, hasn't convinced Americans to distrust the rule of law.
Polarization
Residents of Politically Divided Counties Give Less to Charity
New research finds higher levels of philanthropy in ideologically homogeneous areas.
Beyond Red and Blue: America's Seven Political Tribes
New research finds a majority of Americans are tired of political polarization, and are looking for compromise.
How Political Polarization Breeds Ignorance
There's new evidence that we trust the expertise of fellow political partisans, even when there is reason not to.
Explaining Our Indifference to Presidential Character
When it comes to presidential scandals, is all press really good press?
Can the U.S. Save Democracy Through Civics?
A new poll shows that America's polarization problem is only getting worse.
Is Trump Sabotaging the GOP's Future?
A new analysis suggests the president is shrinking the Republican Party.
Dispatches: What You Need to Know About Polarizing Political Divides
News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.
Ideology Isn't Really About Issues
New research finds our attachment to political labels is based more on social identity than policy positions.
Why School Shootings Produce More Political Polarization
Thoughts of death inspire us to cling more tightly to the beliefs that give our lives meaning—including our ideological stances.
The Emotional Roots of Political Polarization
New research argues feelings of disillusionment prompt people to take more extreme positions.
Dull Minds Are Gullible to Fake News
Cognitive ability drives our ability to recalibrate our views after reading a correction.
When Polarization Isn't the Problem: Seeing Charlottesville for What It Really Is
When violent white supremacists attack and kill people, criticizing divisiveness and urging people to unite is, at best, a dodge.
Polarization and Productivity: A Divided Legislature Isn't Always an Ineffective One
Legislative productivity is contingent on much more than simply having the numbers.
A Legislature Can Be Both Polarized and Productive
Look to the Colorado state legislature, which just closed its 2017 session, for lessons on how to put an end to gridlock in Washington, D.C.
Why the Senate Won't Confirm a SCOTUS Pick
More Americans are committing to one party in the voting booth, and elected officials are behaving in an accordingly partisan fashion.
The People Who Finance Political Campaigns
Those who donate to campaigns are very different from the average voter.
(Mis)perceiving Political Polarization
The average American thinks Republican and Democratic voters are farther apart than they really are—and that's doesn't bode well.
When Campaign Volunteers Do More Harm Than Good
Volunteers often don't look or sound like the people they're trying to win over, and that can be costly.
What Political Parties Talk About When They Talk About Groups
Republicans talk about ideology and Democrats talk about groups—but they may be talking about the same thing.
Why Would Rudy Giuliani Say Something Like That?
Conservatives and liberals like to hear different things from their leaders.
One Way to Weaken Political Polarization
University of California-San Diego researchers find articulating your opponent's perspective, and being held accountable for doing so accurately, moves us closer to the center.
How Can We Fix the Broken Primary Election System?
A look at the Bipartisan Policy Center's comprehensive consideration of the issue.
The Political Polarization of the Average American Voter
Today’s America is highly polarized, but the voting booth is even more so.