Chapter 9 - The Difference Between Democrats and Republicans Flashcards
What is the core argument Mann and Ornstein make about the Republican Party in It’s Even Worse Than It Looks?
They argue the Republican Party is no longer a conventional party but an “insurgent outlier”—ideologically extreme, anti-compromise, anti-science, and delegitimizing of opposition. This asymmetry makes governing harder and media both-sidesism dangerous.
Why does Ezra Klein argue that the Republican and Democratic Parties are structurally different in how they experience polarization?
Republicans are more ideologically and demographically homogenous, allowing them to polarize around a shared identity. Democrats are a coalition of diverse groups with competing interests, which creates internal brakes on extremism and encourages transactional politics.
How does demographic and ideological diversity function as an “immune system” within the Democratic Party?
It forces Democrats to build broad coalitions and speak to different, sometimes opposing, constituencies—preventing total alignment around a single, extreme agenda and making compromise a practical necessity.
What does Klein mean when he says “conservatism is a group identity, not an ideology”?
Many self-identified conservatives shift their policy positions to align with their leaders (e.g., Trump), suggesting loyalty to the group, not fixed principles. Conservatism is thus more about belonging than about consistent policy beliefs.
How does the Republican Party’s informational ecosystem contribute to its polarization?
It’s insular and built around partisan loyalty, with trusted sources like Fox News and talk radio discrediting mainstream journalism. This isolates Republican voters from alternative perspectives, reinforcing group identity and extreme messaging.
Why has the Republican Party embraced more extreme tactics than Democrats in recent decades?
The GOP’s electoral strategy relies on older, whiter, more rural voters whose power is amplified by geography (e.g., Senate, Electoral College). Feeling demographically threatened, the party increasingly embraces high-stakes, zero-sum politics.
How does Klein explain that Democrats are simultaneously more popular nationally but less powerful institutionally?
America is not a majoritarian democracy. Its system favors geography (e.g., Senate, Electoral College), which advantages rural, conservative areas. As a result, Democrats can win more votes nationally and still lose control of power.
What is “identity-sourced news,” and how does it differ between the two parties?
Democrats draw from a diverse range of sources (mainstream + partisan), which creates checks and balances. Republicans rely heavily on a narrow band of ideologically aligned sources, creating echo chambers and accelerating polarization.
How does geographic polarization change the electoral incentives for each party?
Democrats must win in both liberal and conservative areas, encouraging moderation. Republicans can win power by dominating rural, right-leaning districts—even with minority national support—encouraging radicalization over compromise.
What is “tribal epistemology,” and why is it dangerous in a democracy?
It’s when truth is judged based on alignment with group values rather than objective standards. This undermines shared reality, erodes institutional legitimacy, and makes compromise nearly impossible—threatening democratic governance.
