Violence, Politics & Democracy
As shocking events in the United States and elsewhere show, political violence is real. The scope of the threat is unclear, as are the motivations that drive people to harm others they disagree with and the effects of such violence on the outcomes of elections and the health of democratic institutions.
While media reports convey the sense that incidents of political violence are increasing in frequency and intensity, assessing the actual likelihood of politically motivated acts of physical harm remains challenging, as does determining what to do about such threats.
Violence, Politics & Democracy (VPD), a multi-year initiative of The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, aims to examine the threats and root causes that, if left unchecked, have the greatest potential to lead to violence in the US and other democratic systems.
Through research, convenings, and publications, VPD will explore these issues and seek to identify ways to preempt and respond to such dangers.
Read more about the initiative.
The Polarization Project
Research shows that partisan animosity and threats against public officials are on the rise. For The Polarization Project, HFG Distinguished Fellows of Practice Greg Berman interviews leading scholars and practitioners working to understand how stark political divisions may lead to violence and what to do about it.
Interviews
‘Political Polarization Has Become Almost a Form of Entertainment’: A Conversation with Clionadh Raleigh
‘There’s Nothing Inevitable or Permanent about Democracy’: A Conversation with Robert Talisse
‘Stories about the Way the Nation Is Organized Are Dividing Us’: A Conversation with Richard Slotkin
Violence, Politics & Democracy Discussions
As part of the Violence, Politics, & Democracy initiative, HFG will host a series of live and virtual discussions with scholars and practitioners to advance understanding of antidemocratic threats in the United States and other mature democracies.
On Oct. 17 at 1 pm. ET, HFG welcomes Paul M. Barrett, author of ‘We Want You To Be A Proud Boy’: How Social Media Facilitates Political Intimidation and Violence, to discuss his report and steps that social media companies can take to reduce their contribution to increasing levels of political intimidation and violence across the U.S. and around the world.
Discussions
‘We Want You To Be A Proud Boy’: How Social Media Facilitates Political Intimidation and Violence
October 17, 2024
Watch Video“Democracy Tested: Political Violence and Global Elections”
July 23, 2024
Watch VideoSocial Media and Political Violence
‘We Want You To Be A Proud Boy’: How Social Media Facilitates Political Intimidation and Violence, an HFG-funded report from the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, details how social media use can enable or contribute to political strife. Based on a review of more than 400 social science studies, the report by Paul M. Barrett identifies particular features of social media platforms that make them susceptible to exploitation and suggests how to mitigate the dangers.
Trust and Homicide in the US
In Government Legitimacy, Social Solidarity, and American Homicide in Historical Perspective, Randolph Roth, professor of history and sociology at The Ohio State University, argues that shifts in citizens’ beliefs about the legitimacy of their government and the character of political leadership, feelings of affinity for — or alienation from — fellow citizens, and acceptance or resentment of their place in the social order affect the frequency with which Americans kill each other.
Salzburg Global Seminar: Polarization and Violent Threats to Democratic Systems
HFG has launched a three-year project with Salzburg Global Seminar to explore violent threats to democracy worldwide. Polarization and Violent Threats to Democratic Systems: Assessing the Threats and What We Can Do About Them aims to develop a network of researchers and stakeholders examining rising polarization and political violence; define objectives for shaping a new research agenda on the rise of polarization and political violence; understand how to assess escalating threats; and posit recommendations for addressing threats effectively.