Political Polarization in America: Causes, Consequences, and Remedies

This course will discuss the causes of polarization in the United States focusing on cognitive shortcomings such as confirmation bias. It will explore the consequences of polarization in American politics and consider some leading remedies.

Patrick F. Campbell, Ph.D., is the director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Salve Regina University, where he is also an affiliated professor of political science. He has taught at Skidmore College, Ashland University, and the United States Military Academy at West Point, on the U.S. Presidency, American Political Development, and Advanced American politics. His scholarship includes the book, “Democracy and Democratization: Challenges and Opportunities.” Prior to academia, he was a member of the U.S. Department of Justice, serving in three DOJ agencies across the Bush and Obama Administrations as Special Assistant in the Bureau of Justice Statistics and in the Office of the Assistant Attorney General – OJP, where he coordinated anti-human trafficking efforts.