In episode 024 of the Argument Ninja Podcast I'm starting a series of episodes that will explore different models of the causes of social and political polarization, and introduce some general principles for thinking critically about complex social phenomena like polarization.
In this episode (Part 1) I examine models of polarization and social change that are implicit in the depolarization strategies of three different depolarizing initiatives: Better Angels, AllSides, and OpenMind.
https://kevindelaplante.com/034-understanding-the-causes-of-polarization-part-1/
Timestamps:
00:00 Why I'm doing a multi-part series on understanding the causes of polarization
06:46 Ideological polarization and evidence for increases
09:36 Affective polarization and evidence for increases
13:12 The depolarization strategy of Better Angels
20:25 The depolarization strategy of AllSides
26:32 Jonathan Haidt and OpenMind
31:48 The four-factor account of the causes of polarization in Chapter 3 of The Coddling of the American Mind
32:22 Loss of a common enemy or challenge
33:53 Social sorting and the emergence of homogeneous political identity groups
38:14 Partisan media and filter bubbles
39:05 Rise of negative partisanship in government
43:24 On the mismatch between individual-level strategies for depolarization, and multi-level, multi-scalar theories of the causes polarization
49:06 Wrapping up
Links:
Better Angels (https://www.better-angels.org/)
AllSides (https://www.allsides.com)
AllSides For Schools (https://allsidesforschools.org/)
LivingRoom Conversations (https://www.livingroomconversations.org/)
OpenMind (https://openmindplatform.org/)
The Righteous Mind (https://righteousmind.com/)
The Coddling of the American Mind (https://www.thecoddling.com/)
