IOP Pritzker Fellow Nancy French on "Negative Polarization: The Defining Element of American Politics?"

THIS SEMINAR IS OPEN TO CURRENT UCHICAGO STUDENTS ONLY

Monday, March 30

12:30-1:45pm

Negative partisanship - when Americans are motivated more by fear and hatred of the opposing party than by support for their own - is skyrocketing. In this seminar, we'll examine how dislike fuels political identity, voter behavior, media consumption and party loyalty. As a former political consultant, I talk about how the sausage is made, revealing the hours of thought I used to put into email subject lines that would get the most clicks. I’ll talk about how I was an expert in “nutpicking” until I felt God stopped me from breaking the Ten Commandments as a part of my occupational requirements - and how once I decided not to lie, I got fired from my jobs. Why do Americans feel more emotionally invested in defeating the other side than advancing their own ideas? Do parties benefit from anger? Who's harmed by it? Can a democracy function if voters are united only by mutual contempt?

Pritzker Fellows seminars are off the record and open to current UChicago students only. Seating in the IOP Living Room is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Ella Kumano-Maloney (ikmaloney@uchicago.edu).