036 - Understanding Complex Social Phenomena: More Theories of the Causes of Social Polarization

Kevin deLaplante
Kevin deLaplante
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Published 2020-04-05
kevindelaplante.com/036-understanding-complex-soci…

(Note: This episode was originally published to iTunes on August 28, 2019. It was first uploaded to YouTube on April 5, 2020)

On this episode of the Argument Ninja podcast I talk about the difficulty of judging how much we really understand about the causes of complex social phenomena—even if we do lots of research and self-study.

To help make the case I’m continuing my survey of different theories of the causes of the increase in social polarization that we’re currently experiencing.

On this episode I look specifically at the work of two social scientists who have written extensively on this topic:

(1) Karen Stenner on the “authoritarian” personality type.  Her 2005 book The Authoritarian Dynamic can be read as predicting the expansion of right-wing populism that contributed to the rise of Trump and Brexit. Stenner's work has been influential on Jonathan Haidt's analysis of polarization.

(2) Eric Kauffman on the effects of immigration on polarization in white majority countries. His latest book Whiteshift explores how demographic shifts are driving cultural conflict, and how this will likely play out in the longer run.

But before I get to these topics, I give some Argument Ninja Dojo updates, do a recap of episode 034, and present a conceptual model for how we should think about the epistemological challenge of understanding complex social phenomena like polarization.

Timestamps

00:00 - 01:22  Introduction

01:22 - 06:31  Argument Ninja Dojo Announcements

06:31 - 11:45  Recap of Episode 034

11:45 - 14:41  Outline of What's to Come

14:41 -  23:40 Argument Matrices and the Problem of Calibrating Our Knowledge

23:40 - 25:48  The Epistemological Challenge of Understanding Complex Social Phenomena

25:48 - 42:44  Karen Stenner: The Authoritarian Dynamic

42:44 - 01:04:35  Eric Kauffman: Whiteshift and "Multivocal" Nationalism

01:04:35 - 01:07:56  Reasons to Think We Know Less Than We Think

01:07:56 - 01:08:44  Reminder: Argument Ninja Dojo Discount Coupon Links
All Comments (4)
  • @TheWolfgangGrimmer
    Since Brexit was brought up as an example, I think it's important to note that opposition towards the EU, or more broadly, supra-national organizations in general, may just as well stem from an anti - authoritarian sentiment itself. Not that I'm implying this to be the majority motivation behind Brexit in particular, although I do wish it was.