New Reports: civility in politics

Posted by on September 03, 2010

Civility in Politics: Youth Perspective

In a recent report entitled, “Nastiness, Name-calling & Negativity: The Allegheny College Survey of Civility and Compromise in American Politics,” the authors found that average citizens are upset about incivility,  although they differ by ideology, gender, and media use. CIRCLE Working Paper #71 focuses on the newest generation of voters, finding that they differ from their older counterparts, being less likely to believe that civility is possible, less ashamed about recent incivility, but more supportive of compromise and more optimistic about higher education’s role in promoting civility.  Findings suggest a nearly universal recognition of the problem and a growing concern about the implications of an uncivil body politic. Further, the findings cast blame at a number of institutions, but also give reasons for optimism. Download “Youth Attitudes toward Civility in Politics” at www.civicyouth.org/?p=379