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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Robin Buller

Can you ‘undo’ political polarization? Left and right might be closer than we think, study finds

Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters stand near Madison Square Garden before a rally.
Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters stand near Madison Square Garden before a rally. Photograph: Julius Constantine Motal/EPA

You know that uncle whose political takes threaten to turn family gatherings into food fights? Don’t decline his Thanksgiving invitation just yet. When it comes to support for democracy, left and right in America are much closer than you might think.

As a historic US election approaches, both sides see each other as working to upend democracy. But it’s our assumptions about our political opponents – rather than their actual views – that drive polarization, according to new research. And if Democrats want to prove to voters on the fence that they’re acting in good faith, they might want to consider a surprising “grand gesture”.

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