Stacy Ulbig. Angry Politics: Partisan Hatred and Political Polarization among College Students

Abstract

In Angry Politics, Stacy Ulbig analyzes how college students engage with the political world. Through an analysis of novel data, Ulbig demonstrates that partisan animosity and anger can be found in ample amounts on college campuses. Accordingly, her main argument is that the vitriol exhibited in American politics today is attributable to the socializing experiences of college students. As “tomorrow’s activists, voters, and officeholders” who “might be expected to hold less crystallized political values” (p. 4), Ulbig argues that this oft-overlooked segment of the population is crucial to understanding our angry style of politics. Ulbig begins her study by giving an overview of the growth of partisan hostility in the United States. Her account in chapter 1 is rich in detail, weaving together both historical and contemporary examples of partisan hostility. Quotes from elected officials are used throughout the chapter to skillfully illustrate her points. Subsequent chapters then examine the correlates of partisan antipathy in university settings, patterns of media consumption, and the political and social consequences of college students’ anger. The book is sweeping in nature and is a most welcome contribution to the growing literature on anger and negativity in American politics.