Talk by Professor James N. Druckman

Professor James N. Druckman from University of Rochester will give a talk on “(Dis)trust in America” on Monday, August 19, at 13:00-14:30 in the large meeting room (1330-126). You are all most welcome.

Short bio:

James N. Druckman is the Martin Brewer Anderson Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester, and he is also an Honorary Professor in our department. Jamie has published more than 180 articles and book chapters in political science, communication, economics, science, and psychology journals. He has authored, co-authored, or co-edited seven books. His recent books include Partisan Hostility and American Democracy: Explaining Political Divides (University of Chicago Press, 2024), Equality Unfulfilled: How Title IX's Policy Design Undermines Change to College Sports (Cambridge University Press, 2023), and Experimental Thinking: A Primer on Social Science Experiments (Cambridge University Press, 2022). See more here: https://sites.google.com/view/jamie-druckman

Abstract:

“'(Dis)trust in America'

Twenty-first century American politics has been tumultuous. Common explanations for America’s societal and political divide and seeming inability to act collectively include changes in media technology, elite polarization, social and ideological sorting, nationalization of institutions, and unprecedented tribal polarization. This project instead argues that the most concerning and consequential development has been a polarization around trust in scientific institutions. This has come about due to partisan realignment and resulted in two parties—who are charged with collaborating to produce collective goods—operating from entirely distinct epistemologies."