The Other Divide

'Scholars, pundits, and citizens spend an enormous amount of time trying to figure out why the political sides are so divided in contemporary American politics. In this provocative, path-breaking book, Krupnikov and Ryan offer a fundamental reorientation of what we know about polarization. They persuasively argue that the real divide in American politics is between the involved and the uninvolved. Moreover, the small number of involved citizens fundamentally differ from most Americans. This is true regarding their demographics, beliefs, levels of political polarization, parenting, how they express themselves, and how journalists cover them. These differences bisect the parties themselves. The book makes clear that involvement too is not a panacea for democracy, which requires all kinds of citizens and not just involved ones. This book sets the agenda for the next generation of work in American politics: do not dismiss or chastise the less engaged; instead, understand and value them.' James N. Druckman, Northwestern University

'Deeply researched and engagingly written, The Other Divide invites a paradigm shift. Partisan polarization may saturate the news, but Krupnikov and Ryan show that many Americans are not as polarized as popular narratives suggest. The loud and insistent voices that dominate the airwaves and social media networks—and that dominate journalists’ accounts of American political life—do not represent the broad swaths of the public who care about politics, but whose lives are not defined by politics. The Other Divide is a must-read for all who care about the current and future state of political engagement in the U.S.' Regina G. Lawrence, University of Oregon

'Krupnikov and Ryan have written an excellent book with important real-world ramifications. Although the authors might not phrase it quite this way, they report detailed studies of the kind of people who are responsible for much of the pathology that characterizes contemporary American politics. I wish I could make the book required reading for political journalists and media commentators.' Morris Fiorina, Stanford University

'Krupnikov and Ryan provide a fascinating account of the differences between those of us who are deeply involved in politics and those of us who have some or little interest in political affairs. The deeply involved are the focus of much current work in political behavior, and most public debate as well. As these authors note, however, 'The deeply involved are different'. The deeply involved are both more outspoken and more amplified by media, but their priorities and beliefs differ from the majority of Americans. Krupnikov and Ryan consider the sources and consequences of deep involvement in politics. They also highlight the importance of considering the rest of us. In so doing, they offer a crucial corrective at what seems to be a pivotal moment in the study and conduct of American politics.' Stuart Soroka, University of California, Los Angeles

'… this is an excellent book for collections on American politics and public opinion … Recommended.' D. Schultz, Choice

‘Their argument is theoretically robust and empirically solid. It is provocative and relevant well beyond America’s borders. While the book’s presentation and approach will be most familiar to public opinion scholars, it is necessary reading for Americanists, comparativists, and political theorists alike.’ Nicholas F. Jacobs, Perspectives on Politics