Political Science Professor Dr. Jennifer McCoy

How did our current political system become so polarized? What forces pushed us collectively into a situation where we argue - sometimes violently - in the streets? Where will our pursuit of polarization take us as a nation? And what can we do to rescue ourselves from the destructive forces of polarization that threaten our very democracy?

Dr. Jennifer McCoy, a political science professor at Georgia State University, offers some perspective and insight into this situation. As a specialist on democratization and polarization, Dr. McCoy provides unique insight gained over years of studying other democratic societies and their destructive demise, often ushered in on a wave of “Us versus Them” polarization. She identifies the root causes of polarization, and she gives some sage advice on what we can do to fight this destructive trend.