An empirical perspective on improving trust in a polarized age

ABSTRACT

Vallier’s analysis of the empirical literature on social trust and political polarization is an admirable attempt to integrate empirical findings into political philosophy. Nonetheless, it may not go far enough toward explicating what is and what is not the problem. The popular understanding of increasing political polarization does not distinguish adequately between various meanings of this claim, distinctions that might have helped to advance Vallier’s theory. In this brief essay I outline two areas that could be usefully incorporated into his arguments.

KEYWORDS:

• Social trust
• political trust
• polarization
• ideology
• public opinion
• empirical research

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

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Diana C. Mutz

Diana Mutz is the Samuel A. Stouffer Professor of Political Science and Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. She also serves as the Director of the Institute for the Study of Citizens and Politics. Her research focuses on public opinion, political psychology, and mass political behavior.