Do you understand public opinion as well as you think you do?

Matthew Taylor and Ian Leslie dissect new (and sometimes controversial) research on the divide between 'anarchists' and 'centrists'; the voters who live for drama; and the real reasons people share misleading news stories online.

Plus, the similarities and differences between US and UK public opinion, as Matthew meets two of the top researchers from either side of the pond: director of the Pew Research Center, Michael Dimock; and director of the Policy Institute at King's College London, Bobby Duffy.

Links

• Anarchy in the UK (and Everywhere Else): The Ideological Roots of Populism
• A “Need for Chaos” and the Sharing of Hostile Political Rumors in Advanced Democracies
• Matthew Taylor: Populism is growing because more people than you think want chaos
• Ian Leslie: British voters are divided into anarchists and centrists – but the anarchists are calling the shots
• YouTube: King's College London event: The state of trust, facts and democracy
• YouTube: The RSA: Why We're Wrong About Nearly Everything with Bobby Duffy
• Polarised: Identity, with Francis Fukuyama (episode 11, December 2018)
• Matthew Taylor: In tackling polarisation and anger, understanding our opponents is vital. It’s also extremely hard

Produced by James Shield.

Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Brought to you by the RSA.