1 / 24

The Culture War?

This exploration delves into the question of whether the electorate is truly polarized. It examines arguments for and against the existence of polarization, defining key concepts like ideology and the divides within our society, including rural vs. urban, religious vs. non-religious, and gender. Additionally, the analysis looks at historical voting trends, the role of elites, and factors influencing the current political landscape, including media influence and electoral choices. Are we more polarized than in the past, or is it just the candidates who reflect a more divided political climate?

conor
Télécharger la présentation

The Culture War?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Culture War?

  2. Questions for today • Are we a polarized electorate? • Arguments for the existence of polarization? • Arguments against the existence of polarization?

  3. What does polarization mean?

  4. Ideology • What do liberals believe? • What do conservatives believe?

  5. Are we a polarized electorate? • Yes… • Safe states

  6. Red and Blue States http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

  7. Are we a polarized electorate? • Yes… • Safe states • Safe congressional districts • Rural/urban divide

  8. Presidential Election 2008, by county http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

  9. Are we a polarized electorate? • Yes… • Safe states • Safe congressional districts • Rural/urban divide • Religious/non-religious divide

  10. Religion • In 1992: • Committed mainline Protestant: 17% more R than D • Nominal mainline Protestant 10% more R • Committed evangelical Protestant 3% more R • Nominal evangelical Protestant 20% more D • Committed Catholic 31% more D • Nominal Catholic 28% more D • Jewish 64% more D • Non-religious 18% more D

  11. Are we a polarized electorate? • Yes… • Safe states • Safe congressional districts • Rural/urban divide • Religious/non-religious divide • Gender divide

  12. Gender • In 1992: • Male: 1% more D than R • Female: 16% more D than R • In 2008: • Male: 1% more D than R • Female: 13% more D than R • Gender Gap in Party ID: 12%

  13. Are we a polarized electorate? • No… • The electorate is not more polarized

  14. 2008 Presidential electionColor indicates percent R or D http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

  15. Resizing counties by population… http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

  16. Political inclinations

  17. Issue positions

  18. More issue positions

  19. Moral values

  20. Are we a polarized electorate? • No… • The electorate is not more polarized • Our electoral choices are just more polarized • Candidates • Officeholders

  21. Why have elites become more polarized?

  22. Why are elites more polarized now? • Rise of purists/decline of professionals • Civil service • (Closed) Primaries • Redistricting • Realignment of the South • Media? The internet?

  23. Is it really just the elites? Pennsylvania: blue state where the electorate is really moderate? Or big state with “Pittsburgh in the west, Philadelphia in the East, and Alabama in the middle?” Rush’s audience: the elite?

More Related