A recent WGN Investigates segment, “It’s Not Just National Political Figures Facing Fury — Local Leaders Also Under Threat,” featured insights from Erik Nisbet, Director of CCPP and Owen L. Coon Professor of Policy Analysis & Communication at Northwestern University.
The news segment examines the growing number of threats, intimidation, and harassment targeting local officials across the country, from school board members to city council representatives. In the interview, Nisbet raises the point of how meta-perception bias -that is, beliefs about how much opposing partisans support political violence to achieve political goals – may drive a reinforcing spiral of political violence:
“What’s really been different in our politics over the last 5-to-10 years is the level of tribalism and winner take all,” said Erik Nisbet, a Northwestern University political communication professor. “If we think the other side is more violent or is likely to engage in violence, we ourselves are more likely to support violence and that becomes a vicious cycle.”
Political threats/violence are one of CCPP focal research areas, with ongoing work examining how meme-based political threats circulate online and how political talk influences meta-perceptions about, and support for, political violence.
The full televised report is provided below: