Talk: Vin Arceneaux - How Group Identities Can Undermine Democratic Accountability and What To Do About It

Friday, November 15, 2019 - 1:30pm

402 Cohen Hall

Vin Arceneaux

Thomas J. Freaney, Jr. Professor of Political Science

Temple University 

 

Title: How Group Identities Can Undermine Democratic Accountability and What To Do About It

Abstract: In modern democracies, effective self-governance requires people to vote for candidates who share their values and against those who fail to live up to their expectations. Unfortunately, decades of research suggests that people are often more motivated to reinforce and validate their identities with social and political groups than they are in holding elected officials accountable. This project considers how people can be nudged toward having a more open mind.