A new annual national index that quantifies and tracks levels of division, identifies causes and seeks ways to establish a unifying and constructive national dialogue.
Conducted by The Common Good in association with Emerson College Polling, TCGI is based on a national multimodal survey of 1000 18+ U.S. residents. Data was collected October 8-11, 2022.
Political Party Process Drives National Division.
88% believe the way political parties choose candidates is an important contributor to national division. 25% of Americans placed it at the top of the list of things that most divides us followed by the news media (16%) and economic inequality (14%).
Select Press & Links
Emerson College: “A new annual national index that quantifies and tracks levels of division, identifies causes and seeks ways to establish a unifying and constructive national dialogue.” (Full report)
Release: New Study on National Division Finds Startling Results: A third of Americans now say political violence is "sometimes justified."
43% believe civil war is likely. (Press Release)
Release: Majority of Americans Concerned Over Midterm Election Fairness: 43% Believe Civil War Likely (PDF of Press Release)
Newsweek: “Are We 'One Nation Indivisible,' or Doomed to 'Divided We Fall'? “ Opinion by Patricia Duff and Tom Rogers (Full article)
Podcast with Deepstate Radio: David Rothkopf, CEO of TRG Media and former editor of Foreign Policy magazine, interviews Patricia Duff, founder of The Common Good, and Spencer Kimball, Director, Emerson College Polling. How divided are we? (Listen in.)
National Survey Quantifies & Tracks National Division.
The Common Good Index of National Division (TCGI) is at 71 in the first of what will now be an annual measurement of the level of national division with a focus on quantifying and tracking the problem and helping to define solutions.
Shared Values as National Unifier
“Shared Values” have the greatest potential to unite us as a nation and repair growing national divisions (21%). “National Crises” (17%) and “National Defense/External Threats” (17%) were tied for second.
A combination of existential threats and national crises unites 43% of non-registered citizens, 34% of Democrats, 34% of Republicans, and 30% of independent voters.
Politics are dividing friends and family for over half the country.
52% of Americans now say they have friends and family with whom they can no longer discuss politics civilly or respectfully.
Damaged Democracy
62% of Americans believe the country is so divided, it can no longer operate effectively (30% strongly).
61% believe national division is a threat to democracy.
33% of Americans say political violence is sometimes justified.
While 15% of men say that political violence can always or often be justified, only 5% of women say the same.
Discerning Point of Fact from Point of View
78% believe Americans seldom if ever can tell the difference between news and opinion. Failure to distinguish fact from opinion contributes to misinformation and national division.
32% of Democrats, 46% of Republicans, and 45% of independent
Political Party Process Drives National Division.
88% believe the way political parties choose candidates is an important contributor to national division. 25% of Americans placed it at the top of the list of things that most divides us followed by the news media (16%) and economic inequality (14%).
The Danger Within
78% of Americans believe the greatest threat to the country is from internal rather than external forces.
43% believe a civil war is likely.
51% of Republicans, 40% of Democrats, and 36% of independent voters report that divisions in our country are either likely or very likely to lead to a new civil war.
Fears Over Election Fairness Flourish
57% of Americans are worried about fairness in our elections. 19% extremely worried.
30% of Republicans are extremely concerned, compared to 14% of Democrats and 16% of independents.
Contact: Patricia Duff patriciaduff@thecommongood.net 212-599-7040
