The Primer draws on research from political science, psychology, and philosophy. It distills it into an accessible overview that still offers something new even for experts. If you find it valuable, please consider subscribing. https://t.co/Tb9tctTY8U

The other side doesn’t need to grow more extreme for us to treat them like a mortal threat. Affective polarization does that. It distorts our judgment.

Republicans’ and Democrats’ views have diverged over time, but mostly because of sorting, not because either side has grown dramatically more extreme. And many dysfunctions, including the recent shutdown, reflect procedural failures more than ideological radicalism.

This Primer breaks down the four kinds of polarization — affective, belief, platform, and elite — and shows how researchers measure them and what the data actually tell us.

Americans don't disagree more than they used to. The real problem is how they disagree. Democrats and Republicans increasingly hate each other. That hatred warps their perception of the other side. https://t.co/Tb9tctTY8U

It explains social-scientific tools like Feeling Thermometers and DW-Nominate scores and also shows how James Madison and John Rawls illuminate today's divisions.

What is political polarization? This Primer explains four types and how they're measured. Some forms reflect healthy democratic disagreement. Others corrupt our judgment. https://t.co/Tb9tctTY8U

Tomorrow, Sat, at 11am Pacific! Discuss tribalism and American politics with philosopher Allen Buchanan on @interintellect_ . Free tickets still available. https://t.co/KbNVGQZMDU

What are “tribal ideologies”? Why do young people take so many selfies? How do we repair the Union? Discuss these questions with philosopher Allen Buchanan at the rescheduled Zoom salon this Sat, Oct 25, starting at 11:00am Pacific. @interintellect_ https://t.co/KbNVGQZMDU

First tweet: I’m hosting a salon this Saturday (Oct 18, 11am PT) with philosopher Allen Buchanan on his new book Political Tribalism: How it Hijacks Our Minds and Diminishes Our Humanity (Routledge, 2025). Join us for a thoughtful discussion. https://t.co/xfbl1WGJx8