Politics on your mind? Dr. Marc J. Hetherington, a Vanderbilt University professor and political science author, will shed some light on the presidential race, giving a lecture in Milligan’s Hyder Auditorium this Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
The “Personality, Polarization, and the 2016 Election” lecture will draw largely from Hetherington and Jonathan Weiler’s book “Authoritarianism and Polarization in American Politics.”
In the award-winning piece, Hetherington and Weiler discuss the relatively new tendency of those with more authoritarian personality types (or, those who highly value order and rules) to support Republican candidates. The authors also believe this trend directly correlates with an increase in polarization, or extreme separation, between Democrats and Republicans.
In light of the ongoing election campaigns, Hetherington will especially highlight Republican nominee Donald Trump and his appeal to authoritarian personalities, as well as the effects of his campaign on the polarization between the major parties.
Dr. Michael Blouin, an English and Humanities professor at Milligan, encourages students and faculty to attend the lecture, adding that “opportunities to hear well-known experts share their research” don’t come regularly.
“During a very important election year, it may be fruitful for students to ask why certain groups of people choose to vote in particular ways,” Blouin said. “Students will walk away with a much deeper understanding of the issues at hand.”