Abstract
This article presents results of a study of the impact of political dynamics on group deliberations of issues presented in the short film The Response. We selected four groups of 18-22 year-old participants based on political views, engagement, and efficacy (liberal, conservative, and two mixed groups), and asked them to view and discuss issues presented in The Response related to the combatant status review tribunals held at Guantanamo Bay. We found the groups with mixed political views had higher quality discussions of the issues and a better understanding of the issues post-discussion – in particular the tension between national security versus individual rights and of the nature of the tribunals. We also found a significant number of conservative group members became more conservative in their views as a result of their discussion. We discuss implications for secondary and post-secondary education as well as for political polarization overall in society.
Highlights
Introduction and Relevant LiteratureOne of the best ways to produce well-informed and active citizens is to engage students in structured deliberations of contemporary controversial issues (Hess, 2009; Parker, 2003)
Some of the most impactful controversial issues from the past two decades have been associated with US domestic and foreign policies that resulted from the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, DC on September 11, 2001
We know that these types of controversial issue deliberations are likely not occurring in schools (McAvoy & Hess, 2013; Hess, 2009), and especially not around contemporary issues involving the war on terror or issues of privacy and national security being debated in the US
Summary
Introduction and Relevant LiteratureOne of the best ways to produce well-informed and active citizens is to engage students in structured deliberations of contemporary controversial issues (Hess, 2009; Parker, 2003). We studied how four groups of participants (liberal, conservative, and two mixed), ages 18-22, viewed and discussed The Response.
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