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| https://hiddentribes.us |
The report (November, 2018) outlines the findings of a large scale national survey of Americans about the current state of civic life in the United States. The report was conducted by 'More in Common', it was designed to identify and promote resilience in the face of mounting political polarisation and social division. Consequently, the researchers conducted research across a wide diversity of the population with varying lines of social division.
Today many Americans (and other Westerners) feel that they are financially insecure, are socially isolated and suffer from a loss of identity and belonging. Many others suffer from injustices stemming from race, sex, gender, religion and other facets of their identities. These issues have been even more exacerbated by the advent of the Corona Virus. As a consequence, many people would surmise that American society (possibly including the rest of the Western world) are deeply divided, such a sentiment would posit that there is approximately 50%/50% divide, aligning with the two major political tribes.
However, their research uncovered a completely different story. The researchers, in fact, identified seven groups (tribes) that were defined more by their core beliefs, than identified by a popular perception based on politically correct notions of race, gender, class, etc. Furthermore the research undertaken claimed that these groups were classified as:
- Progressive activists - 8%
- Traditional liberals - 11%
- Passive liberals - 15%
- Politically disengaged - 26%
- Moderates - 15%
- Traditional conservatives - 19%
- Devoted conservatives - 6%
Each segment have distinguishing characteristics that show internal consistency of political and social issues. The commonality of the views within each group predict political trends better than demographic, idealogical or partisan affiliation. Despite the differences, interviews conducted with a large sampling of American society on a wide range of social issues showed that Americans have more in common than views that should divide them.
It would seem that in the current age social media and partisan news media outlets emphasise differences that would divide people. Many commentators overreach with claims of racism, homophobia, sexism and a whole host of other dehumanising pejoratives. In a pluralistic society one would expect that debate and the open sharing of ideas would generate much needed innovation and social progress. However, sensible debate is often shut down due to the overreach of political correctness. The danger is that creativity and considered reflection will also be shut down as a result.
This social atrophy is not, however, insurmountable and will eventually pass. The researchers of this report aim to give hope to a society that has more in common (particularly tribes 2-6) than we have been led to believe and that with a renewed sense of national pride these positive and essential social qualities may come to the fore.
Gold Coast based political and social media commentator, Daisy Cousens ('Is this the end of social justice'), has recently positioned this report in the context of the Corona Virus Pandemic. She seems to infer that the virus might generate a coming together in a time of a world wide crisis. It is a time when people need to work together to fight an invisible but a real and formidable enemy. As a result political correctness and other trendy views may pale into the background as common sense and innovation is needed to overcome COVID-19 pandemic within our fragile humanity.
Links:
Hawkins, S., et al. (1918). Hidden Tribes: A study of America's Polarised Landscape. New York, N.Y.: More in Common https://hiddentribes.us
see also
Heterodox: https://heterodoxacademy.org/social-science-hidden-tribes/
