Americans are deeply divided along partisan lines. The disagreements between Democrats and Republicans are not just ideological, but also social. Friends are unfriended on social media for their political rants. Political arguments threaten the harmony of Thanksgiving gatherings. The partisan divides among Americans are thought to fuel gridlock in Washington, as elected officials resist making concessions and hold the party line. How can democracy survive in a time of party polarization?
In this lecture, Wolak will discuss how that in contrast to the conventional wisdom, Americans want politicians to work together to find compromises. Even if they disagree about partisan priorities, most Americans prefer elected officials who will make compromises to those who stand firm to their ideological convictions.