Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Democracy at the Crossroads: Beyond Party Lines

Nov 4, 2024

Hosts reflect on their experiences from a conference focused on the fragility of democracy. They highlight the alarming rise of autocracies and the importance of social norms in safeguarding democratic values. The discussion emphasizes the impact of political polarization and media on public discourse. A strong call to action urges listeners to prioritize democratic principles over party loyalty, stressing the power of voting and community engagement. It’s a mix of insights and a reminder to celebrate democracy with fun activities like baking for the polls!

22:26

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Quick takeaways

Social norms play a vital role in sustaining democracy, filling gaps that formal laws cannot, highlighting democracy's fragility amidst rising global autocracies.

The perceived polarization in society is largely driven by political elites and media narratives, while citizens often hold more moderate, unifying views.

Deep dives

The Fragility of Democracy

Democracy is often thought of as a system defined by structures and laws, but the podcast highlights the crucial role of social norms in sustaining it. The speakers reflect on the observation that social norms fill gaps that formal laws cannot address, influencing behavior and expectations even in the absence of specific legal guidelines. They point out that the erosion of these social norms poses a significant threat to democratic principles, as trends show an alarming increase in autocratic governments worldwide. For example, the number of autocratic regimes has risen from 11 in 2003 to 42 in 2023, indicating a stark shift in how populations experience governance.

Intro

2min

The Fragility of Democracy: The Role of Social Norms

5min

The Erosion of Democratic Forbearance

5min

The Influence of Political Discourse on Social Media

8min

Upholding Democracy: A Call to Action

3min

Has Behavioral Grooves turned into a political podcast?

Not really (ok, maybe kinda it has - but for just a few weeks, we promise ). With the 2024 election days away, however, it’s felt nearly unavoidable for many people, including us. Attending the Norms and Behavior Change Conference (NoBeC), titled, Democracy Under Threat, sparked some essential thoughts and insights that we feel compelled to share.

Democracy relies on fragile social norms that are under serious threat right now. From startling statistics about the rise of autocracies worldwide to the surge in misinformation, it’s clear that a renewed commitment to democratic norms is needed now more than ever. So, here’s a crucial question for all of us to consider: Is party loyalty more important than the stability of our democracy?

Join us to rethink democracy—not just as a system but as a collective responsibility – bound together by shared beliefs. Your voice matters, your vote is essential, and together, we can help fortify democracy. If you don’t have a plan for where and when you’re going to vote, put one together. Get a friend to vote with you. You may feel disenfranchised or fatigued or angry or sad…just make sure you vote. And put a happy spin on your voting experience: celebrate the fact that we can vote by baking an election cake (or election pie or even election cookies) to bring to the polls! Democracy is fragile, please treat it with respect.

Special Thanks to: Cristina Bicchieri, Kaushik Basu, Diana Mutz, Gretchen Helmke, Horacio Larreguy, Christoph Abels, Ryan Enos, Robert Talisse, Giulia Maimone, Erik Groenendyk, Nikos Nikiforkis, Cesar Nuñez, Karine Nyborg, Jan Voelkel and Ryan Enos for their participation in NoBeC and their fascinating research!

Topics

[0:08] Understanding Democracy and Social Norms

[3:07] The Fragility of Democracy

[9:34] Polarization and Media Influence

[17:43] The Role of Political Elites

[19:55] Gratitude and Closing Thoughts

Links

Find Your Polling Place

Polarization Series

Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics

Cristina Bicchieri

Kaushik Basu