Election Insights 2018
Research-based perspectives from MIT
Commentaries, Music for the Midterms, and an Election Booklist
For the 2018 midterm election season, MIT SHASS faculty offer research-based perspectives on issues of importance to the country — ranging from the future of work to national security to civic discourse and the role that "we, the people" have in the defense of democracy itself.
In addition to the commentaries, enjoy Music for the Midterms — a lively playlist created by our music community — and an annotated Election Booklist, nine works selected by MIT humanities scholars as illuminating for this moment in American history.
We hope you enjoy this Election Insights 2018 series — and that you will vote on November 6th!
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Playlist from the MIT Music community |
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On Civil Society and the Defense of Democracy
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On Partisan Politics |
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On Media Technology and Immigration Policy Sasha Costanza-Chock, Associate Professor of Civic Media
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On Democracy and Civic Discourse
"Elections are helpful reminders (as if we needed any) that we do not all agree. Yet, we must somehow figure out how to get along despite our disagreements. In particular, we may wonder whether, and to what extent, we should tolerate views we disagree with. In some cases, a well-functioning discursive market — a public forum of diverse views — may require us to respond to certain views with 'discursive intolerance.'" |
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On Women Candidates of Color
"A record number of women have filed as candidates this year, and a record number have won primaries in House and Senate races. Women of color make up one-third of the women candidates for the House, and three of four female gubernatorial nominees are women of color." |
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On Social Media and Youth Political Engagement
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On the U.S. / North Korea Relationship |
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On Reducing Gun Violence |
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On Work, Stories, and American Identity |
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Reading for the Midterms
As the 2018 midterms approach, MIT writers and humanities scholars offer a selection of nine books — along with notes on why each work is illuminating for this moment in American history. (Photo: Suspended Bookshelf," by Richard Wentworth) |
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Suggested Resources
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