The UNC Program for Public Discourse recently hosted a discussion on “Democracy and Public Discourse” featuring faculty spanning political science, history, and psychology. CITAP senior faculty researcher Shannon McGregor joined these colleagues in exploring the causes and effects of political polarization,
“Is the polarization a bad thing or is the anti-democratic movement against [social justice advocacy] the thing we should be concerned about?”
— Shannon McGregor
Professor Claude Gregg pointed out that decrying the current state of public discourse “presumes there was a point when it was in good repair.” Panelist Marc Heatherington summed up the argument for polarization by noting the accomplishments of divisive political movements past, including civil rights and LGBT advocacy: “It’s a demonstrably better world as a result of those battles. Yeah, we’re experiencing a lot of discomfort, but it’s not for no reason.”
UNC’s The Well published a recap of the event.
Recent publications and appearances
“When you’re trying to get attention, a lot of the time exploiting a divide or difference of opinion is a good way to spread whatever it is you want to spread.” Alice Marwick discusses the identity politics behind why a fringe group would declare Twitter war on Anne Frank.
“I still do not understand how we can be in community with people who, by withdrawing from their social responsibility, are actively harming others. But I do not think I have to understand it. I don’t think that I even have to be in community with Covid deniers. I have to somehow be in community with the people who are behaving in socially responsible ways without demonizing those who are not.” Tressie McMillan Cottom contemplates the limits of her empathy for Covid deniers.
Coming soon
September 29: Deen Freelon will join a panel conversation on shared governance and academic freedom hosted by the Royster Society of Fellows.
September 29: The Center for Media Law and Policy will host a panel discussion on the First Amendment and social media, featuring Shannon McGregor and faculty affiliates David Ardia and Matthew Perault.
October 4: Releasing on 10/4, Dissent Magazine’s fall 2021 issue,Back to School, features a special section on the state of higher education, including a piece from Tressie McMillan Cottom.
October 8: Alice Marwick and Will Partin will present work on the Q Clock and and knowledge production within the QAnon conspiracy at the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) annual conference.
October 12: Tressie McMillan Cottom will appear live for readings and conversation with Kate Bowler and Kelly Corrigan at Durham’s Carolina Theatre.
October 19: Student affiliate Daniel Johnson will be moderating a virtual conversation with Howard Nathaniel Lee, U.S. Army veteran, social worker, and first African-American mayor of Chapel Hill. Email stonecenter@unc.edu to register.
October 27: Faculty affiliate Caitlin Petre will give a research seminar at the University of Leeds on how metrics are transforming the work of journalists.
Francesca Tripodi shared a sneak peek at her forthcoming book due out next fall.
Rest of Web
Our friends at CSMaP are hiring for a Research Operations Director role.
📄 Friend of CITAP Eszter Hargittai shared a new paper on gender gaps in academic recognition: