Political Parties & Polarization

Our report on political polarization in America has renewed debate among journalists and academics over what is called “asymmetrical polarization” – the idea that one party has moved further ideologically than the other. A number of congressional scholars have concluded that the widening partisan gap in Congress is attributable mostly to a rightward shift among […]

For America’s most ardent liberals and conservatives, polarization begins at home. In what may seem like stereotypes come to life, a new Pew Research Center study on political polarization finds that conservatives would rather live in large houses in small towns and rural areas — ideally among people of the same religious faith — while liberals opt […]

Political polarization is the defining feature of early 21st century American politics, both among the public and elected officials. Our study finds that Republicans and Democrats are further apart than at any point in recent history.

Republicans and Democrats are more divided along ideological lines – and partisan acrimony is deeper and more extensive – than at any point in recent history. And these trends manifest themselves in myriad ways, both in politics and in everyday life.

Throughout its history, the Pew Research Center has periodically conducted major surveys that take an in-depth look at important trends in American political attitudes and behavior. Today we released one such survey on political polarization, which is arguably the defining feature of early 21st century American politics. This is reflected not only in the public’s […]

Detailed tables that accompany the report:  Political Polarization in the American Public. Section 1: Growing Ideological Consistency Table 1.1 Ideological Consistency Section 2: Growing Partisan Antipathy Table 2.1 Partisan Antipathy Section 3: Political Polarization and Personal Life Table 3.1 Preferred Community Table 3.2 Ideal Community Type Table 3.3 Important Community Qualities Table 3.4 Important Community Qualities Table 3.5 Family Member Marrying Republican/Democrat Table 3.6 Family […]