Trigger Points
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Bristol University Press
Bristol University Press
Bristol University Press
Abstract
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Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. Today’s political debates are fiercely polarized. But looking beyond the headlines, this book shows that ordinary citizens hold much more nuanced, less divided views. Drawing on rich survey data and group discussions, this work maps four major areas of conflict: migration, climate change, diversity, and economic justice. Across these conflicts, most citizens take positions that are middle-of-the-road, contradictory, or undecided. It is only certain ‘trigger points' – like gendered pronouns or refugee admissions – that predictably ignite tensions and deep disagreement. Political entrepreneurs know this and weaponize trigger points for their agenda. Yet the real key to contemporary conflicts, the book argues, lies in social inequality. This is a vital work that maps today’s political landscape without sensationalism, offering a fresh lens on public debate.
Keywords
Polarization, Populism, Cultural discourse, Liberal democracy, Social cohesion, Political extremism, Migration, Climate change, Diversity, Distributive justice, Social exclusion, Social inequality, Political sociology, thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JH Sociology and anthropology::JHB Sociology, thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBF Social and ethical issues::JBFH Migration, immigration and emigration, thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBF Social and ethical issues::JBFA Social discrimination and social justice, thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBS Social groups, communities and identities::JBSA Social classes