As political polarization deepens across the globe, scholars like Jay Van Bavel and Yphtach Lelkes are leading the charge to understand how this divide affects democracy. Their research goes beyond headlines, offering solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our time, from political hostility to the rise of anti-democratic views. Van Bavel’s work focuses on how social media amplifies political divisions, a crucial factor in today’s political climate. Lelkes explores the emotional drivers behind political hostility, showing why polarization persists even as people claim to value democratic norms.
IHS has provided significant backing to both scholars. In 2024, Van Bavel received a $55,000 grant from IHS to support his ongoing book project on polarization and liberalism. Meanwhile, Lelkes has been awarded $20,000 in IHS funding to develop datasets tracking political vitriol, which are now being used to analyze the emotional and psychological aspects of polarization. Additionally, both scholars have participated in IHS events that allowed them to collaborate with other researchers and policymakers.
Van Bavel’s co-authored study, “Partisan Antipathy and the Erosion of Democratic Norms,” has been featured in major publications like The New York Times and has shaped discussions on how polarization weakens democracy. Lelkes’s seminal 2012 study, “Affect, Not Ideology: A Social Identity Perspective on Polarization,” continues to be widely cited for its insights into how emotions, not just ideology, drive political divisions. Their work is informing real-world strategies to combat polarization, from social media policy changes to political reforms.
Jay Van Bavel and Yphtach Lelkes are advancing our understanding of political polarization. Their research is helping to shape conversations on how to preserve democracy in the face of growing political hostility, offering hope for a more unified future.
By supporting IHS, you invest in scholars at a formative stage in their careers. Not only with crucial financial support, but with inspiration and connections to other like-minded and driven intellectual collaborators that they can’t find from any other funder.
