The rise of political violence in America

Key takeaways

Recent events highlight an alarming rise in political violence in the U.S., necessitating serious discussion about its implications for democracy.
Political violence can encompass a broad range of actions, and understanding its definition requires nuanced consideration of historical context.
America's current political violence is part of a larger trend seen in other democracies, influenced by unique domestic conditions.
Experiences of violence can affect political behavior, increasing engagement among victims and their communities.
Personal histories play a significant role in understanding contemporary issues, demonstrating the importance of connecting to the past.

Summary

In light of the recent assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk, Kimberly Adams hosts a conversation with political science professor Regina Bateson. They explore the troubling trend of political violence in the United States, discussing its implications for democracy. Bateson highlights the importance of the bipartisan condemnation of political violence and mentions how heightened political rhetoric can incite further violence. They stress that while America has had moments of political violence historically, the current landscape is influenced by higher levels of general violence due to gun accessibility and political extremism.

Defining Political Violence

Adams and Bateson examine the complexity of defining political violence, noting that public perception varies. Bateson argues that acts such as lynching, KKK violence, and recent targeted assassinations should all be considered forms of political violence. They discuss how the motivations behind such acts can be obscure, complicating societal understanding and reactions.

Historical Context of Political Rhetoric

The discussion shifts to the historical context of political violence, with Bateson drawing parallels between present-day America and global trends. She emphasizes that many democracies are experiencing a similar rise in political rhetoric and violence, and that the U.S. is not unique in this regard. However, the country's unique mix of high baseline violence and accessibility to guns exacerbates the situation.

Impact on Citizen Engagement

In the context of political violence, Bateson shares insights from her research on how being a victim of violence can increase political engagement among citizens. She discusses the implications of rising political violence on overall civic participation and democracy, noting that fear can lead to withdrawal from political engagement.

Personal Reflection on History and Identity

The episode concludes with a listener's segment featuring Beth Wasdo, who shares her experience of digitizing her great-grandmother's WWII diaries. This personal narrative highlights the importance of historical documentation for family connection and understanding current societal challenges.

Show notes

In the wake of yesterday’s assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Regina Bateson, a political science professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, joins Kimberly to unpack the rise of targeted political violence in the United States and what it means for the health of our democracy. Then, one of our listeners shares how digitizing her great grandmother’s WWII diaries helped connect her with her family’s past.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

"A new dark normal of political violence still shocks the nation" Politico
"Tracking Attitudes About Elections and Political Violence Over Time" from States United Democracy Center
"How Americans Justify Political Violence" from The New York Times Magazine
"Special Report: Key Political Violence and Resilience Trends From 2024" from the Bridging Divides Initiative
Check out Beth’s digitized diary project

Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

The rise of political violence in America

Key takeaways

Summary