Could We Moderate Our Politics With Instant Runoffs?
An alternate voting system being tested in several cities around the world could have some surprising long-term effects.
Browsing Tag
Polarization
40 posts
When Polarization Doesn’t Happen: Lessons From Michigan and the United Auto Workers
What happens when activists and interest groups support political candidates who are not in their pocket, and give them leverage to behave more moderately.
Want to Reduce Polarization? You Need to Improve Political Journalism
Ideologically extreme members of Congress are more vulnerable to defeat when voters can learn about their in-office activities through traditional media.
Our Political Parties Have Polarized, But They Have a Lot Further to Go
There are still plenty of moderate congressional districts represented by officials who vote with their constituents in mind—but that could soon change.
Members of Congress Are Elected to Represent, Not to Get Along
Why attempts to characterize President Obama as a leader unable to cajole and intimidate our other elected officials are profoundly misguided.
Institutions Worthy of Our Parties: Should the U.S. Switch to a Parliamentary System?
Efforts to curb legislative partisanship have weak track records, so maybe we should consider changing the other side of the equation in order to establish a government that can actually get things done.
Divided Government Usually Means Gridlock
There's likely one area of agreement for both the main political parties in Washington, D.C.: We expect to get little done in the next two years.
Political Leapfrog Hops Over Most Americans
Americans hoping to triangulate their votes to chart a course between the extremes of ideology find their representatives are sailing even faster to the fringes.
Waiting for the Train Wreck
Bob Bennett's fall in Utah adds evidence to research showing polarization truly is the worst it's ever been in Washington, D.C.
Political Lens-scape Increasingly Polarized
Obama administration gains another first — most divided debut year since polling began.