Polarization and Persuasion: Engaging Sociology in the Moral Universe of a Divided Democracy

Abstract

Our divided democracy—characterized by partisan polarization and moralized opposition—presents significant challenges to sociologists who would use our discipline to create a more just society. I focus here on the strategic role of, and need for, deeper engagement across the political divide. I review current research on polarization—increasingly focused on attitudinal consolidation and partisan identity—to emphasize challenges to and opportunities for persuasion. I call for increased engagement in three strategic subfields of sociology: (1) social movements, to integrate persuasion more centrally into theories and research on collective social action; (2) social psychology, to engage the interdisciplinary field of moral cognition to develop effective strategies for persuasion; and (3) rural sociology, to understand more deeply the perspectives and moral frameworks essential to engagement across the divide.