Over the past three decades, political polarisation has taken on increasing significance in American politics, with notable acceleration in the past six years. After reviewing several events, this talk by Professor William D. Ferguson will relate these developments to interactions between political/economic interests and two types of conceptual frameworks: worldviews regarding government and class interests, and a contrast between class-oriented as opposed to ethnic/racial identities.

A simple model based on pure interests can account for many developments between the 1930s and mid-1970s, but it cannot account for subsequent developments. After offering some background on shared mental models, narratives, political entrepreneurship, economic shocks, and rising inequality, this talk will address interactions between interests and the contrast between a laissez-faire/trickle-down worldview on the one hand and a regulatory/class conflict worldview on the other.

Whereas this broader approach can account for many developments between 1978 and 1990, it fails to address many subsequent developments. For the post-1990 period, this talk will sketch a more comprehensive model that also incorporates a contrast between class-based and racial/ethnic shared identities, with attention to interactions with both interests and worldviews and how political entrepreneurship, with attendant narratives, has framed such interactions. Accelerating polarisation ensues. The discussion will close with several ideas on reversing polarisation, beginning with inclusive counter-narratives and attention to providing economic benefits for the less well off. 

This event will also be streamed live on our YouTube channel.