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American Politics Has A Respect Crisis

American Politics Has A Respect Crisis

Update: 2024-08-014
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This podcast delves into the growing lack of respect in American politics, exploring its roots, impact, and potential solutions. The hosts begin by defining respect as distinct from tolerance, emphasizing its importance in a diverse society. They present research findings highlighting a significant lack of respect between opposing political partisans, particularly Democrats struggling to respect Republicans. This lack of respect is attributed to the moralization of worldviews, with Democrats holding a social justice worldview and Republicans a national solidarity worldview. The podcast traces the evolution of political disagreement, suggesting a shift from policy-based arguments to a more moralized and polarized landscape. This shift is attributed to factors like the fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of social justice discourse, and the sorting of political parties. The hosts explore the consequences of political disrespect on personal relationships, highlighting the increasing number of people who have lost friendships or cut off family members due to political differences. They also discuss the correlation between having friends across party lines and increased respect for opposing views. The podcast addresses the question of whether all beliefs deserve respect, acknowledging that some beliefs, such as those that undermine democracy or promote conspiracy theories, do not. They emphasize the importance of distinguishing between respecting a person and respecting their beliefs, and caution against political stereotyping. The hosts discuss the dangers of withholding respect from fellow citizens, highlighting the importance of recognizing the diversity of viewpoints in a democracy. They argue that a lack of respect can lead to a decline in civic engagement, compromise, and ultimately, the health of democracy itself. The podcast outlines the consequences of a lack of respect in American politics, emphasizing its impact on political negotiation, compromise, and social cohesion. They argue that a lack of respect can lead to a decline in civic engagement, compromise, and ultimately, the health of democracy itself. The hosts explore the underlying causes of political polarization, suggesting that the fall of the Soviet Union and the shift from a common enemy to an internal one has contributed to the rise of affective polarization, or hating the other party. They argue that this shift is driven by moralized disagreements, where opposing views are seen as inherently evil. The podcast concludes by offering practical advice for fostering respect in a polarized political landscape. They encourage listeners to focus on understanding rather than demonizing opposing views, to engage in respectful dialogue, and to prioritize personal connections over political differences.

Outlines

00:00:00
The Decline of Respect in American Politics

This podcast explores the growing lack of respect in American politics, examining its roots, impact, and potential solutions. The hosts begin by defining respect as distinct from tolerance, emphasizing its importance in a diverse society. They present research findings highlighting a significant lack of respect between opposing political partisans, particularly Democrats struggling to respect Republicans. This lack of respect is attributed to the moralization of worldviews, with Democrats holding a social justice worldview and Republicans a national solidarity worldview.

00:11:34
The Evolution of Political Disrespect and its Impact

The podcast traces the evolution of political disagreement, suggesting a shift from policy-based arguments to a more moralized and polarized landscape. This shift is attributed to factors like the fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of social justice discourse, and the sorting of political parties. The hosts explore the consequences of political disrespect on personal relationships, highlighting the increasing number of people who have lost friendships or cut off family members due to political differences. They also discuss the correlation between having friends across party lines and increased respect for opposing views.

00:17:26
The Limits of Respect and its Importance in a Democracy

The podcast addresses the question of whether all beliefs deserve respect, acknowledging that some beliefs, such as those that undermine democracy or promote conspiracy theories, do not. They emphasize the importance of distinguishing between respecting a person and respecting their beliefs, and caution against political stereotyping. The hosts discuss the dangers of withholding respect from fellow citizens, highlighting the importance of recognizing the diversity of viewpoints in a democracy. They argue that a lack of respect can lead to a decline in civic engagement, compromise, and ultimately, the health of democracy itself.

00:22:34
Building Respect in a Polarized World

The hosts explore the underlying causes of political polarization, suggesting that the fall of the Soviet Union and the shift from a common enemy to an internal one has contributed to the rise of affective polarization, or hating the other party. They argue that this shift is driven by moralized disagreements, where opposing views are seen as inherently evil. The podcast concludes by offering practical advice for fostering respect in a polarized political landscape. They encourage listeners to focus on understanding rather than demonizing opposing views, to engage in respectful dialogue, and to prioritize personal connections over political differences.

Keywords

Tolerance


Tolerance in political science refers to the willingness to grant basic civil liberties and rights to groups one dislikes, such as freedom of speech and assembly. It emphasizes the acceptance of diverse viewpoints, even if they are opposed.

Respect


Respect, in the context of politics, encompasses both recognition respect (acknowledging the inherent dignity of all individuals) and civic respect (acknowledging and respecting the different views held by others in a diverse society).

Recognition Respect


Recognition respect is a philosophical concept that emphasizes the inherent dignity and worth of all individuals, regardless of their beliefs or actions. It is about recognizing the humanity and value of every person.

Civic Respect


Civic respect is a political concept that emphasizes the importance of respecting the different views held by others in a diverse society. It involves engaging with opposing viewpoints, even if one disagrees with them, and acknowledging the legitimacy of those views.

Social Justice Worldview


A social justice worldview emphasizes the importance of addressing historical and systemic oppression, promoting equality, and ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly. It often focuses on issues of race, gender, and economic inequality.

National Solidarity Worldview


A national solidarity worldview emphasizes the importance of unity and cohesion within a nation, prioritizing shared values and a sense of collective identity. It often focuses on issues of national security, patriotism, and traditional values.

Affective Polarization


Affective polarization refers to the increasing animosity and hatred between opposing political parties. It goes beyond policy disagreements and involves a deep emotional aversion to the other side.

Q&A

  • What is the difference between tolerance and respect in the context of politics?

    Tolerance is the willingness to grant basic rights to groups one dislikes, while respect involves recognizing the inherent dignity of all individuals and acknowledging the legitimacy of their different views.

  • How does the moralization of worldviews contribute to political disrespect?

    When people moralize their worldviews, they see anyone who disagrees with them as inherently evil, making it difficult to respect opposing viewpoints.

  • What are some of the consequences of political disrespect on personal relationships?

    Political disrespect can lead to the loss of friendships and family relationships, as people become increasingly unwilling to engage with those who hold different political views.

  • What are the limits of respect in a democratic society?

    While all individuals deserve recognition respect, not all beliefs deserve civic respect. Beliefs that undermine democracy or promote harmful conspiracy theories do not warrant respect.

  • What are some practical steps individuals can take to foster respect in a polarized political landscape?

    Individuals can focus on understanding rather than demonizing opposing views, engage in respectful dialogue, and prioritize personal connections over political differences.

Show Notes

How much do you respect people who hold different political views from you? On today’s podcast, Galen speaks with Jeff Spinner-Halev and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse, political scientists and authors of the book “Respect and Loathing in American Democracy.” They conducted one of the first empirical studies of respect in American politics, exploring how modern partisans overwhelmingly struggle to respect their political enemies.

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Comments (1)

Douglas Killingtree

This entire episode: #baduseofpolling The both-sides-iness and hypocrisy is astounding. "Anti-democratic sentiments don't deserve respect," and yet it's appalling that liberals don't respect Trump supporters? 💁‍♂️ As a queer man, I feel zero guilt about not respecting people who would strip away my rights and the bodily autonomy of women. Also, basing an entire thesis on, "We don't have data but we THINK..." is bold. "People were more civil" back before Civil Rights is quite a hill to die on 👎

Aug 1st
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American Politics Has A Respect Crisis

American Politics Has A Respect Crisis

ABC News, 538, FiveThirtyEight, Galen Druke