Episode 25 - Prof. Larry Bartels - What Political Science Can Teach Us About Politics Today

Nashville Sounding Board

Trying something new for the final episode of 2018! Vanderbilt University Professor Larry Bartels discusses his book, Democracy for Realists, with guest host and Governing Magazine writer John Buntin. Bartels also discusses what identity politics means and why politics today is more partisan than ever. (Scroll down for list of books mentioned) Topics by minute: 2:30 - "The Folk Theory of Democracy" 3:30 - How well informed are voters? 5:18 - Impact of the economy on voting behavior 7:40 - Thermostatic nature of American politics 11:13 - Voters blaming Presidents for natural disasters 14:20 - Are elections a game of musical chairs? 15:40 - Swing voters 17:05 - Partisanship as identity 18:30 - Religion and reinforcing identities 23:20 - Polarization 26:35 - Race and "collapse of liberalism" 29:21 - Shift beginning in 1964 31:15 - Racial backlash or "white southern identity?" 34:48 - Race and party affiliation post Obama 40:42 - Trump and the racialized lens 43:09 - What was most striking about Trump's campaign? 47:23 - How well do elections hold politicians accountable? 50:00 - Political engagement and groups contending for power 51:51 - Local elections and national partisanship 54:38 - Book recommendation Books Mentioned: -- "Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity" by Lilliana Mason -- "Ideology in America" by Christopher Ellis and James Stimson -- "Identity Crisis: the 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America" by Sides, Vavreck and Tesler -- "The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker" by Kathy Cramer -- "Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government" by Larry Bartels Nashville Sounding Board is a podcast dedicated to discussing social and political issues affecting Middle Tennessee. www.nashvillesoundingboard.com www.facebook.com/NashvilleSoundingBoard www.twitter.com/NashSoundBoard NSB is produced by Benjamin Eagles. Views expressed by Benjamin Eagles in this podcast and on social media are his alone and do not reflect the views of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Music by Craig Turner and Joe Halberstadt