A Divided America?

Journalists, politicians, and cable-news pundits tell us that America is a deeply divided nation.  But is it? This talk examines the evidence regarding the widely shared assumption that we live in a polarized country.  What do we mean by polarization?  Who, if anyone, is polarized, and on what issues?  How did we get here, and what can be done about it?

PLEASE NOTE – new date! (previous date Feb. 21)

GUEST SPEAKER:
Matthew Dickinson is a professor of political science at Middlebury College. He taught previously at Harvard University, where he also received his Ph.D., working under the supervision of presidential scholar Richard Neustadt. Dickinson has published numerous articles on national governing institutions, including Congress, the bureaucracy, the presidency, presidential decision making, and presidential advisers. His blog on presidential power can be found at http://blogs.middlebury.edu/presidentialpower/.